Puquio Santa Rosa Protection Forest, Protection forest in Chao, Peru
Puquio Santa Rosa Protection Forest is a woodland reserve in the La Libertad region that covers approximately 72.5 hectares at a low elevation near the coast. The forest was specifically designed to protect natural water sources and prevent damage to nearby agricultural lands and local infrastructure.
The reserve was established in 1982 by Peru's National Service of Protected Natural Areas to safeguard water resources needed for local farming. This action arose from the need to protect the natural water supply and prevent damage caused by river erosion and sedimentation over time.
The name Puquio comes from Quechua and means spring, showing how local people have long connected this place to water sources. The spring remains a focal point where visitors can see how the community depends on this natural resource in their daily lives.
You need to get permission from SERNANP before visiting, so contact them ahead of time. The best period to go is between April and December when conditions are most favorable for exploring the area.
The area contains underground water springs that feed the agricultural lands in the lower valleys while protecting them from river deposits and erosion. These hidden reservoirs are essential to the irrigation systems here, though visitors rarely see them directly.
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