Photo by Angus Malmgren
I am Angus Malmgren, and I am 19 years old. I will be going on a scientific expedition to Manu in the Peruvian Amazon Rainforest with the British Exploring Society in July 2015. This website documents my journey, beginning with the fundraising, but later recording the experience of the expedition itself.
Why Manu?
- I want to go to Manu because it is one of the most bio-diverse ecosystems, for plants and animals, in the world – and includes over 20,000 species of plants, and 10% of the world’s bird species. It is home to many rare and endangered species, such as Jaguar, Brazilian Tapir, Giant Armadillo and Woolly Monkey.
- I find it exciting that I will have the opportunity to help the Crees Foundation with their biodiversity studies, which will help them to conserve the region and its species.
- As most of the reserve is inaccessible and undeveloped, there are many undiscovered species here, like frogs new to science, and plants which may provide treatments for presently incurable human diseases.
- The Amazon Rainforest is being destroyed at an alarming rate, and this damage is starting to infringe on the borders of the Manu National Park. Threats include deforestation for timber and subsistence living, oil and gas drilling and gold mining. I would like to see the rainforest before it has been destroyed.
- The biodiversity of the rainforest shouldn’t be taken for granted. It must be protected by encouraging sustainable ways for local inhabitants to make a living, and Eco-tourism should be encouraged. This can only be achieved with the kind of work being carried out by the Crees Foundation.
- I would be extremely excited to see the diverse landscape of Manu, with its lowland Amazonian rainforests up to the high-altitude cloud forests on the flanks of the Andes.
The London Zoological Society recently suggested that world wildlife populations have declined by 52% in the last 40 years.
All photos on this website are copyright of Angus Malmgren, unless otherwise stated.
