In 2001, Quinn Meyer (MA), a specialist social anthropologist, spent time in the Manu Biosphere Reserve at a small "eco-tourism" lodge, managing the development of a new tour to a native community.

After spending a year traveling to and from the Manu Biosphere Reserve and meeting with local government representatives and inhabitants, Quinn identified a common need:

"The MBR region is starved of resources, with little to no information flowing between the region's capital (Puerto Maldonado) and the province's capital Salvación. There is no means for local people to access any information about the activities that most affect their daily lives and how to improve them, such as their children's education, the lack of sound economic advice and assistance in sustainable forestry and agricultural practices."

Quinn decided that active participation with these communities was required and in 2002 purchased Fundo Mascoitania, located a short walk from Salvación or a boat ride down the Alto Madre de Dios river from Atalaya.

Having established a base of operations in Manu, Quinn founded a not-for-profit organisation called 'Centro de Recursos Y Educacion En la Selva' (CREES), which translates as the Centre for Research & Education in the Jungle. The name 'CREES' is partially based upon a pun on the word "crees", which in Spanish translates as "do you believe?

The CREES logo (see right) incorporates a Peruvian petroglyph which a symbol of biodiversity as well as a metaphorical phoenix rising from an open book.

The CREES team, driven by the belief that access to information should be a right that everyone is entitled to, strives to promote research and education initiatives that provide information that will have a positive impact on the living standards of local populations as well as on the environment.

CREES Education Initiative 2004