Flora
The forestry resources are extremely heterogeneous and cover an estimated 14,099.7 km2, or 79% of the total area of the province (17,847.76 km²). The following classification of forest types exclusively refer to tree cover and have been identified by INRENA: dense lowland forestry, dense highland forest, dense hillside forest, hydrophytic palm forest (8). On the other hand, a study carried out by AIDESEP, that essentially covers the forest close to the High Purús and Curanja rivers, classifies the forest in only two ways: low hillside forest and Pacal or bamboo (dense, semi-dense and dead) (9).
Fauna
In the Alto Purús Reserved Zone there is little pressure on the wildlife, suggesting that there is rich, abundant fauna that has not been studied. Numerous endemic species are known to exist. According to Supreme Decree No. 013-99-AG (1999), the presence of species in different conservation categories include:
Species in danger of extinction include mammals such as the black spider money (Ateles paniscus), neotropical otter, (Lutra longicaudis), and giant otter, (Pteronura brasiliensis).
Vulnerable species include mammals such as: the red howler money (Aloutta seniculus), the red titi (Callicebus cupreus), the pygmy marmoset (Cebuella pygmaea), Goeldi's marmoset (Callimico goeldii), the red-bellied tamarin (Saguinus labiatus), red-necked owl monkey (Aotus nancymae), the black headed owl money (Aotus nigriceps), the white-fronted capuchin (Cebus albifrons), the black-capped capuchin (Cebus apella), Humboldt's woolly monkey (Lagothrix lagotricha), monk saki monkey (Pithecia monachus), Bolivian squirrel monkey (Saimiri boliviensis), squirrel monkey (Saimiri sciureus), the giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), collared anteater (Tamandua tetradactyla), ocelote (Leopardus pardalis), margay (Leopardus wieddii), jaguar (Pantera onca), Brazilian tapir (Tapirus terrestris), and small-eared dog (Atelocynus microtis). Birds include: roseate spoonbill (Ajaia ajaja), king vulture (Sarcoramphus papa), blue and yellow macaw (Ara ararauna), red-bellied macaw (Ara manilata), and wood stork (Mycteria americana). Reptiles include: narrow-snouted spectacled caiman (Caiman crocodylus), black caiman (Melanosuchus niger), yellow-spotted Amazon river turtle (Podocnemis unifilis), and tartaruga (Podocnemis expansa).
Rare species include the six-tubercled river turtle, (Podocnemis sextuberculat), the boa (Boa constrictor), and anaconda, (Eunectes murinus).
Species in an undetermined situation include mammals: kinkajous (Potos flavus) brown brocket (Mazama gouazoubira). Birds: festive amazon, (Amazona festiva). Reptiles: matamata, (Chelus fimbriatus), Geoffrory's side-necked turtle, (Phrynops geoffroanus) and the gibba turtle, (Phrynops gibbus).
Abundant game species include: the collared peccary, (Tayassu tajacu), white-lipped peccary, (Tayassu pecari), paca, (Agouti paca), brown agouti (Dasyprocta variegata), the Red Brocket (Mazama americana), the Capybara (Hydrochaeris hidrochaeris) and the South American coati (Nasua nasua), among others, (INRENA 2000) (10).
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8 Ibíd. P. 43-45.
9 Ibíd. P. 45-47.
10 Instituto Nacional de Recursos Naturales INRENA. "Manejo de Áreas Naturales Protegidas de la Amazonía Peruana". Georeferencia de la propuesta de la Zona Reservada del Alto Purús. Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana IIAP, Iquitos, 2000. P. 15-17.
