Réserve nationale naturelle de Nukak, Protected rainforest reserve in Guaviare Department, Colombia
Reserva Nacional Natural Nukak is a protected area in eastern Colombia, covering a vast stretch of tropical rainforest between the Inírida and Guaviare rivers. The land is crossed by dense networks of streams and rivers, with a continuous tree canopy that keeps the forest floor in near-constant shade.
The Colombian government created this protected area in 1993 following pressure from indigenous organizations, and expanded its boundaries a few years later. Both decisions came as a direct response to growing pressure from farming and extractive activities reaching the edges of the territory.
The Nukak people, after whom this territory is named, move through the forest in seasonal patterns, following the availability of food and water. Their knowledge of plants and animals shapes every aspect of daily life in ways that a visitor can witness directly.
Access to the reserve must be arranged in advance with local authorities and representatives of the Nukak people, as there is almost no tourist infrastructure inside. The journey requires solid physical preparation and enough time, since routes are long and the terrain is demanding.
Until the late 1980s, the Nukak had almost no contact with the outside world, making them one of the last groups in the western hemisphere to live in near-total isolation. When first contact occurred, the community suffered severely from introduced diseases to which they had no immunity.
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