Manu Learning Centre
| Fundo Mascoitania Reserve | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | Manu Province, Madre de Dios Region, Peru |
| Nearest city | Cusco |
| Area | 643 km² |
| Established | September 26, 2002 |
The Manu Learning Centre (MLC) is located within the Fundo Mascoitania Reserve, a 643 hectare private reserve, encompassed within the cultural zone of the Manu Biosphere Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the the largest protected areas in Peru. It is home to a variety of rainforest types including lowland Andean, pre-montane, bamboo and high terrace forests. This geographical complexity creates habitats for a huge diversity of flora and fauna. The MLC is operated by the CREES group, a non-profit and business collaboration working towards sustainability for the Manu Region[1]. The MLC serves local schools and farmers as well as international researchers and volunteers. It has hosted workshops for the Organization for Tropical Studies, and on behalf of the Manu National Park Guards, as well as research projects from Oxford, Aberdeen, and Glasgow Universities in addition to the SOAS. The MLC has also worked alongside schools from the UK including Southbank International School and Tonbridge School.
History
The MLC was built in 2004 on an abandoned hacienda. The initial concept was to demonstrate that it was possible to use novel land use techniques to rehabilitate large areas of degraded land and to empower and educate local communities throughout this process. There is a large body of work that had been completed at the MLC incorporating aspects of biology, geography, zoology, anthropology, tropical agriculture, politics, and art. Specific projects have focused on reforestation, mammal behaviour patterns, human impact studies, environmental management, monitoring of the blue headed macaw (CITES Red listed), soil & agricultural sustainability, forest dynamics, carbon offsetting, and the legitimacy of local power structures to name a handful.
CREES
CREES (Conservation, Research & Education towards Environmental Sustainability) was established in 2004 prior to the construction of the MLC and the creation of Fundo Mascoitania. It is the only organisation to be in operation within the Manu region of Peru who regularly consults with local populations about their development priorities and leads the consequential local development projects.
Facilities
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The MLC provides comfortable, airy accommodation, top level research facilities and ample space for the processing of samples, laboratory work and other project needs.[2] The centre boasts an environmentally sound septic system and gravity fed water pumps in order to keep within the stations vision[3] to minimise its impact on the environment and reduce it's carbon footprint.
Accommodation: Comfortable lodging for up to 36 visitors in accommodation 'pods'
Washing Facilities: Bathrooms include showers, toilets and washbasins
Kitchen & Dining Facilities: Well equipped kitchen serves three meals a day. The comfortable dinning room also provides space for lectures and group orientation
Library: A quiet area for study with an archive of useful information
Administration Centre: Office facilities and secure storage for valuable items and equipment
Laundry Facilities: Full service / self service
Satellite Internet: Up to 256kbps download / 56kbps upload (weather permitting)
Fluvial Transport: 16hp lancha for local river transport
Electricity: Solar panels and a 1kw backup generator
Access
The MLC is accessible from Cusco by road until Atalaya and then by lancha until the port at the MLC. During the dry season boats may not be able to navigate the river from Atalaya in which case transport is needed up until the Aguanos settlement on the opposite side of the Alto Madre de Dios River. Crossing is then possible by raft or by lancha.
Biodiversity and wildlife
The MLC reserve attracts an array of parrots and macaws thanks to the spectacular clay mineral lick, or Collpa carved out by the Alto Madre de Dios river. This collpa is the only one of its type in the zone, and is visited daily by hundreds of colourful and noisy parrots and macaws, the most notable of these being the Blue Headed Macaw. These in turn draw raptors such as the ornate hawk eagle and crested eagle.
The best time to visit the collpa is early in the morning. A 15 min ride upstream in the MLC's lancha takes you to the hide which is maintained and regulated by the MLC.
Mammal Collpa
The MLC boasts two large mammal collpas which attracts smaller mammals as well as large groups of white-lipped peccary and their natural Jaguar predators.
Wildlife Monitoring Array
The MLC's wildlife monitoring array was established in 2005. The array comprises of a 1km2 monitoring grid mapped using GPS. It provides a quantified area in which researchers can complete research on plants, animals and birds.
Species lists and forest types
- List of mammal species catalogued within the MLC (by order, family, genus and species definitions)[1]
- Lists of the birds catalogued within the MLC Reserve and the common plant species in forest types can be found on this link[2].
External links
References
- ^ UNEP (2008-09-20). "Manu National Park" (PDF). http://www.unep-wcmc.org. pp. 1–8. Retrieved 2009-03-19.
{{cite web}}: External link in|publisher= - ^ MLC description
- ^ MLC Vision
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