Conservation

A living landscape.

Soqtapata is a 9,618-hectare conservation area in Cusco, Peru — a place to understand before acting.

The Landscape

In the heart of the Tropical Andes.

Soqtapata sits in the Tropical Andes of Cusco, Peru. Across this elevation range, climate, vegetation and habitat change within a single conservation area.

Forested Andean ridges under cloud across Soqtapata’s elevation range.

9,618 ha

Conservation area

974–4,350 m

Elevation range

Biodiversity

Life at every altitude.

From canopy to forest floor, life takes many forms across Soqtapata’s elevation range.

Woolly monkey resting on a mossy branch in the canopy.

Woolly monkey. Moves through the canopy in groups.

Lagothrix sp.

Glass frog seen from below against a translucent leaf.

Glass frog. Translucent skin that reveals its organs.

Centrolenidae

Giant anteater. Forages on the forest floor for ants and termites.

Myrmecophaga tridactyla

Andean bear. South America’s only bear.

Tremarctos ornatus

Continue exploring

Explore biodiversity
in your pocket.

EcoSpeciesExplorer

A visual field guide for exploring species — carry the landscape with you.

Apple, the Apple logo, and App Store are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Glass frog photo: Jack Mortimer.

EcoSpeciesExplorer on iPhone — species browse, filters and detail screens.

Beyond our boundary

Conservation doesn't
end at our boundary.

Soqtapata is part of a wider landscape where forests, water and wildlife connect with neighbouring communities. Lasting conservation depends on people and places across this shared territory.

People and place

Part of a
wider landscape.

Conservation takes place within a wider territory shaped by people, forests and water. Understanding these relationships helps us identify where collaboration can strengthen long-term protection.

Local communities
Neighbouring populations shape how this landscape is lived and cared for.
Shared ecosystems
Forests, water and wildlife continue beyond the conservation boundary.
Collaborative action
Lasting protection depends on people and places across the wider territory.

Community members with a conservation banner in Villa Cadena.

One landscape. Two dimensions.

To understand
the landscape,
we need to understand
the whole system.

Ecological processes and human realities are interconnected. Understanding both helps us make better conservation decisions, identify new questions and develop practical responses through research and collaboration.

Ecological system. Biodiversity, ecosystems, climate, water and forest across the elevation gradient.

Human system. Neighbouring communities, livelihoods, territorial context and opportunity beyond the boundary.

For researchers

A place to study,
learn and contribute.

Soqtapata offers researchers, students and universities an opportunity to study biodiversity and ecological change directly in the field. Through CIDS, we welcome research questions, academic projects and collaborations that contribute to a deeper understanding of the landscape.

Work with us