Réserve nationale naturelle de Nukak, Protected rainforest reserve in Guaviare Department, Colombia
Nukak is a large protected region in eastern Colombia encompassing about 875000 hectares of tropical forest between two major rivers. The territory is rich with water-filled landscapes featuring countless streams, dense tree cover, and a wide variety of plant species throughout.
The government established this protected area in 1993 following advocacy from indigenous organizations, then expanded it significantly four years later. These founding moments marked a major turning point in shielding this forest landscape from outside pressures.
The reserve is named after the Nukak people who have called this territory home for generations and continue to live according to their traditional ways. They navigate seasonally through the forest and depend on deep knowledge of plants and animals that define life in this dense ecosystem.
Visitors must arrange access in advance with local authorities and the Nukak people since infrastructure is limited throughout. Proper preparation and patience are necessary to explore the forest responsibly and respect the land.
This territory was one of the last places where indigenous people lived with minimal contact from the outside world until the late 1980s. This isolation allowed hunting and gathering traditions to be preserved nearly unchanged for generations.
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