Peru's Culture Ministry has reduced the protected area surrounding the Nazca Lines by nearly half, from approximately 2,162 square miles to 1,235 square miles. The move shrinks the Nazca Archaeological Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and archaeologists warn it could expose the ancient geoglyphs to exploitation by informal miners seeking to legitimize their operations amid a global surge in precious metal prices.
The reduction matters because it threatens one of the world's most significant archaeological sites, home to geoglyphs dating back 2,000 years that include hummingbirds, orcas, monkeys, and a cat etching from 200 B.C.E.–100 B.C.E. Former environment minister Mariano Castro warned of "very serious risks and cumulative damage" from extractive mining activities, while the ministry defends the change as an "update" to better reflect the relationship between the geoglyphs and physical features. The decision highlights ongoing tensions between cultural heritage preservation and resource extraction in Peru.