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Wednesday 7.3.2001
Machu Picchu, Peru's National Sanctuary
More and more tourists are drawn to Machu Picchu for its wonders of nature, culture, and history. Once the center of the ancient Inca empire, Machu Picchu is located in the Andes mountains, in southeastern Peru.
Mikko Pyhälä in front of Machu Picchu
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Important archeological sites include the Inca city ruins at a height of 2 400 meters; elevation in the region ranges from 1 800 to 6 300 meters above sea level. The increase in tourism is a potential threat to the conservation of Machu Picchu's unique natural environment. On the other hand, tourism is a much-needed source of income.
In 1981 the government established Machu Picchu as a national sanctuary of some 32 500 hectares, about half the size of Tampere. UNESCO then established this as a world heritage site in 1983.
The enigma of the ruins
Researchers still don't know what purpose Machu Picchu served before Pizarro's Spanish conquerors arrived in the 1500s. One interpretation is that the city was the home of an elite group. Whatever it was, the place held special meaning for the Incas, and it's very likely that it was a center for religious ceremonies.
On the basis of findings so far, researchers consider it possible that Machu Picchu was uninhabited when the conquerors arrived. Evidently Pizarro and company were not impressed with the area because it didn't yield gold or other treasures. Forgotten for centuries, the ruins of Machu Picchu were rediscovered in 1911.
The Finnish connection
Finland's foreign ministry, specifically the department for development cooperation, has been involved in a joint project with the Peruvian authorities since 1998, the aim of which is sustainable conservation in the region. Finland's National Board of Forestry is responsible for planning aid.
"It looks like the project will continue at least until 2002," says Mikko Pyhälä, Finland's ambassador to Peru.
A natural mosaic of indigenous species
Pyhälä has been the ambassador since 1998, plenty of time to acquaint himself with the country and its unique environment. According to Pyhälä, the world can be divided into 120 biogeographical life zones, 80 of which can be found in Peru, nine in Machu Picchu alone.
With such diverse life zones side-by-side, the preconditions for evolutionary development are good. Zones are often separated by river gorges and snow-capped mountains. These surroundings have encouraged the emergence of several species of plant and animal that are indigenous to the Machu Picchu region.
Among the bird species are the Inca wren and the cuscontanaga. Indigenous plants include trees that thrive at much higher altitudes than anywhere else in the world – trees belonging to the polylepis family grow as far as the snow line at 4 800 meters.
A gene bank for humanity?
"Peru has developed more food plants for people's use than any other country, and no other country has as many edible fruits as Peru," Pyhälä notes.
Some 10-20% of all the known species in Peru can be found within Machu Picchu's protected site. Each of the nine life zones has its own flora and fauna. Already in the days of the Inca, the farming terraces were agricultural gene banks, just as they are today.
"It could be that the great environmental diversity now dates back to those times. People brought food and medicinal plants, and possibly animals and birds, back from their pilgrimages."
"Protected areas like Machu Picchu are a little bit like life insurance for us because they support many wild plants which could be developed into food plants for humankind."
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