The president of Peru, Martin Vizcarra, has launched a campaign to plant one million trees in Machu Picchu. The campaign started on January 9th, the day of the 39th anniversary of the archaeological sanctuary. The goal of the campaign is to protect the site from landslides caused by winter storms.

“We need to take care of our sanctuary through this reforestation measure,” declared the president during the planting ceremony. “We have to be conscious of the importance of taking care of the environment and fighting against climate change.”

The goal is to finish planting native species – that is, those that are typical of the region – in the archaeological complex and surrounding areas by 2021. The roots of the plants help retain the soil, and thus, prevent landslides during rainy season. The trees will occupy more than 700 hectares (close to 650 football stadiums) of an area that has already suffered from summer fires.

What is Machu Picchu?
The ancient capital of the Incas – a civilisation that lived between approximately 3000 B.C. and the year 1500 – holds vestiges of how people lived at the time.

The site was discovered in 1911 by an explorer from the United States, after remaining hidden for almost 400 years in the jungle. During those years, only local residents knew about it.

Considered a World Heritage site by UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization), Machu Picchu is the main tourist attraction in Peru. It is visited by close to 1.5 million people every year.

Sources: Deutsche Welle, Peruvian Ministry of the Environment, and TV Peru

Questions
1) Which is the right information about Machu Picchu?
a) The Incas discovered it in 1500.
b) One million Brazilian trees will be planted there.
c) The sanctuary reached its 40th year in 2020.
d) The site was hidden for almost 400 years before it was discovered by an explorer.

2) Where do you think trees need to be planted in Brazil? Why?

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