UNESCO has added the ancient stone-walled agricultural terraces of the Cañete Valley in Peru to the World Heritage List, citing their exceptional importance to Pre-Columbian hydraulic engineering. These expansive terrace systems, some of which are still in use today, were designed to maximize arable land and manage water runoff in the arid Andean foothills.
The designation aims to support the local communities in maintaining the traditional ecological knowledge required to operate these ancient systems. UNESCO officials stressed that preserving such sites is crucial for understanding historical responses to climate variability and for developing sustainable agricultural models for the future.