Principal habitats at CICRA

CICRA sits at the tip of a peninsula of terrace separating the Los Amigos and Madre de Dios rivers. The three major terrestrial habitats in Madre de Dios -- upland forests, floodplain forests, and swamp forests -- are located within 15 minutes of the station.

A bird's-eye view of the landscape and principal habitats around CICRA, generated by draping a Landsat image over a digital elevation model. Base map courtesy of Mathias Tobler and the Botanical Research Institute of Texas.

The CICRA trail system also provides easy access to bamboo patches, primary successional forest, riparian vegetation, and areas disturbed by artesanal gold mining. Aquatic habitats include oxbow lakes, a blackwater pond, two large rivers, and dozens of small streams, springs, and swamps. Maps of vegetation, trails and water bodies around CICRA are available here. A searchable database of the Los Amigos flora is available here.

Attractions at CICRA for researchers in applied ecology include mining, logging, and conservation concessions, as well as large populations of non-timber forest products like Brazil nut and natural rubber. The nearest large town is an hour's boat ride away.

For more information on CICRA, click here.

An oxbow lake in floodplain forest near the station

A blackwater pond in the palm swamp