From glaciated Andean peaks down to the vast lowland Amazon, the Secret Forest encompasses a breathtaking drop in elevation. As morning sun breaks over the Madre de Dios River basin, warm mist rises above the canopy, catching the early light. Here, high-altitude cloud forests dissolve into endless tropical wilderness, where ancient trees with massive buttress roots stand tall along winding riverways. Bringing together two world-renowned regions—Manu and Tambopata—this is a landscape of extraordinary scale, where life thrives across every altitude.
Our online map shows all the areas the Secret Forest currently covers. Explore permanently protected lands through high-resolution aerial photos and see where donations are making an impact.
Manu’s extraordinary diversity is rooted in its geography. The region stretches from the eastern Andes at around 4,000 metres down to the Amazon lowlands at just 200 metres. Along this dramatic descent, temperature, rainfall, and growing conditions change, creating a remarkable range of habitats within a relatively small area. Cloud forests, mountain forests, lowland rainforest, floodplains, and rivers each support their own communities of plants and animals.
The Alto Madre de Dios River adds another dimension. Flowing from the Andes into the lowlands, it carries sediment that forms new sandbanks and islands and reshapes existing habitats. As the river changes course, it continually creates new places for life to take hold.
Manu National Park has UNESCO Biosphere Reserve status, while the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve across the Alto Madre de Dios River is also protected. Yet between these protected areas lie forests that remain vulnerable to development. Illegal deforestation and gold mining are already putting pressure on the region, while an existing state oil concession could open the area to further exploration.
Wilderness International established the Secret Forest Manu to help close this gap in protection. Our new protected area currently covers 860 hectares and is gradually expanding through further land purchases. By protecting this forest, we’re laying the foundations for a wildlife corridor between Manu National Park and the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, helping keep intact forest connected and creating a protective barrier against future development.
Within the Secret Forest Manu, a stream reveals a rare natural phenomenon: small quantities of oil seep out of the rock. Natural oil seepage can indicate larger reserves beneath the surface, making these areas of interest to oil companies. Exploration could bring roads, deforestation, and disruption to the surrounding ecosystems. The Secret Forest Manu, like the territories of Indigenous communities in the region, lies within an existing state oil concession, meaning international companies could drill here.
Indigenous communities in the region have fought against development in the area for decades. Protecting the forest today helps safeguard both the ecosystems and the communities whose territories and lives are connected to them.
The Secret Forest Manu borders the territory of the Shintuya community, with whom Wilderness International has a long-standing friendship. When this land became available, the Shintuya approached us for support in protecting their territory and forests.
Their relationship with the land is deeply connected to their culture, history, and way of life. Together, we’re restoring degraded forest, supporting agroforestry and environmental education, and creating opportunities to share knowledge about the forest and its wildlife between generations. We’re proud to support the Shintuya’s work and amplify their voice internationally.
Tambopata’s diversity stems directly from the movement of the Tambopata and Madre de Dios Rivers. As these waters rise, recede, and carve new channels across the land, they shape a rich variety of distinct natural environments. Dense floodplain forests and flooded palm swamps give way to ancient terra firme woodland, where massive trees stand tall above high ground untouched by river floods.
Each of these distinct zones nurtures its own community of life, allowing species to thrive in incredible density. You might spend a quiet morning watching mist drift through the treetops as the sun rises over the canopy, or pause beneath towering trunks to hear the calls of countless bird species echoing far above you. Surrounded by giant trees and vibrant wildlife at every turn, being in Tambopata feels pure magic—a place that truly takes your breath away and brings you face-to-face with the heart of the Amazon.
The forests of Madre de Dios are under growing pressure. Once a rainforest is cleared, the web of life it supports cannot simply be put back.
Across the region, forests are cleared for agriculture and livestock, logged for timber, and opened up by roads and other infrastructure. Illegal gold mining is another major threat, stripping away forest, damaging riverbanks and wetlands, and polluting waterways with mercury.
These pressures don't just remove trees. They fragment habitats, disrupt waterways, and threaten the ecological connections that allow this landscape to function as a whole.
That’s why we at Wilderness International have chosen to protect the Secret Forest.
By keeping these forests intact, we can safeguard ancient trees, rivers, and wetlands, and the countless species that depend on them. Permanent protection gives this extraordinary wilderness a chance to remain wild, connected, and alive for generations to come.
