About Us
Our biodiversity conservation goals are simple:
Discover, Understand, and Protect
Combining Science & Ecotourism since 2010
Nestled in the Manu Biosphere Reserve, in southeastern Peru, Manu Biological Station and Manu Biolodge contribute with the discovery, understanding and protection of the greater Manu landscape. With elevations spanning between 480 and 1200 meters and surrounded by the rivers that form the impressive Madre de Dios River, Manu encompasses diverse ecological systems that harbor some of the highest biodiversity on the planet.
Our Story
Established in 2010, Manu Biological Station protects close to 9,000 acres of tropical forests in the buffer zone of Manu National Park. Prior to the colonial period, the Manu’s property was a coca-growing state controlled by the Inca Empire. By the end of the 19th century, the property became a farm and took the name of Villa Carmen.
Under the management of the engineer Abel Muñiz, Manu Biological Station (ex Villa Carmen) developed into a highly productive farm. Crops, fish, and dairy products were flown from an airstrip in Manu’s property to the markets of Cusco and Madre de Dios. In 2010, the Peruvian non-profit Conservación Amazónica (ACCA) acquired the property from Abel Muñiz’s widow and built a premier research station and ecolodge to protect pristine forests at the foothills of the Eastern Andes.
Our Mission
Our mission is to discover and understand the biodiversity of the Andes-Amazon and to build innovative science -driven, field-based conservation programs in partnership with indigenous people, policy makers and civil society.
We empower a diverse community of conservationists with the knowledge and training needed to protect the greatest concentration of biodiversity on the planet.
Meet our team
A fun, kind and dedicated group of people that share a passion for conservation.
From right to left:
Alejandro Lopera, Program Director
Juliana Morales, Lab Manager
Elena Chaboteaux, Science Coordinator
Persi Luna, Regenerative Agriculture Manager
From top right to bottom left:
Juan Quispe, Francisco Llacma, Ilibia Kuno, Timoteo Huacac, Aparicio Quispe, Cristian Costas, Jhonatan León