UNESCO Peru and KOICA mark the official start of the “Ayllu Verde” project, a territorial vision of the circular economy for sustainable tourism in Cusco

The Ayllu Verde project will be implemented in 12 districts of the provinces of Cusco and Urubamba, with funding of approximately USD 20 million from the Government of the Republic of Korea. Its objective is to reduce the environmental impacts of tourism, strengthen the capacities of local governments, and promote a circular economy inspired by the Andean concept of the ayllu as a living community grounded in reciprocity and care for the territory.

Guiomar Alonso, UNESCO Representative in Peru, underscored the strategic and comprehensive nature of the project, noting that: "This project builds on the circular economy pathways currently being advanced by the Peruvian State, bringing them to the territorial level through a preventive approach that helps ensure the conservation of Cusco's World Heritage sites and contributes to improving people's quality of life. For UNESCO, this project is a commitment to sustainable development that recognizes heritage as a social and economic driver and places communities at the centre of change."