 In the 1940s, national and foreign investors began studies for the use of forests in the provinces of Jaén and San Ignacio.This prompted the Peruvian government to reserve an area that would serve as a nature sanctuary, by creating the Oso Perdido National Forest.In 1977, a lumber company, El Chaupe, was granted two exploitation contracts by the government in the forests located in the districts of Chirinos, Tabaconas and Namballe, all in the province of San Ignacio.