Machu Picchu Threatened by Climate Crisis, Korea Steps Up for Conservation

Machu Picchu, Peru.

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The National Heritage Promotion Agency announced on the 21st that it had signed a Record of Discussions (R/D) with the Ministry of Culture of Peru in Lima, the capital of Peru, on the 17th regarding the international development cooperation (ODA) project aimed at "Strengthening the Capacity for Conservation and Management of Machu Picchu." The Record of Discussions is a document that stipulates details such as the target, budget, schedule, and division of responsibilities for the project.

The two countries will carry out the Machu Picchu conservation project over five years, from this year until 2030. The National Heritage Administration previously signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry of Culture of Peru for this project in April last year.

Machu Picchu, designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983, is facing increased concerns over ground instability and the risk of landslides due to irregular torrential rains in the Andes Mountains. The annual influx of up to 1.5 million tourists is also cited as a major risk factor threatening the site.

Through this project, the two countries plan to produce precise three-dimensional (3D) records of Machu Picchu and transfer related technologies, introduce a comprehensive system for conservation environment analysis and inspection, transfer maintenance and management techniques, support pilot conservation and restoration projects, and develop guidelines for cultural heritage management.

An official from the Promotion Agency stated, "This is Korea's first international development cooperation project for cultural heritage in the Latin American region," adding, "We aim to make it a leading model for addressing the global challenge of the climate crisis."

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