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Local Circular Economy and Sustainable Tourism in WHS of Cusco (Peru)

The objective of this project is to contribute to environmental protection and the conservation of 3 WHS and cultural/natural heritage of Cusco by improving environmental behavior in the reduction and the separation of non-organic solid waste in the 8 districts of the province of Cusco and 4 districts of the province of Urubamba. The intervention adopts an integrated approach that combines Greening Education, protection of cultural heritage, community engagement, and the circular economy. It aims to strengthen local environmental committees, promote community leadership and create networks coordination across key sectors such as tourism, environment, education, and culture. All of this will be carried out under principles of equity, inclusion, and shared responsibility, ensuring that the solutions adopted are sustainable, replicable, and culturally appropriate. It will directly impact staff from 12 municipalities (over 50% women), more than 100 tourism operators, World Heritage site managers and technical teams (50+ people), as well as school principals and teachers (over 30% women teachers). It will also indirectly benefit over 500,000 residents across the 12 districts and more than 4 million visitors per year. This proposal represents a unique opportunity to position Cusco as an international benchmark in sustainable tourism and the circular economy. The implementation of an efficient waste management model in the region will not only guarantee the protection of the region's cultural heritage but will also generate positive impacts on the population's quality of life and the sustainability of the tourism sector. The project, aligned with UNESCO Sustainable Tourism Programme, will support the implementation of international and national legal frameworks as 1972 Convention, SDG and Sustainable Tourism and Circular Economy national Roadmap. It will also seek to ensure that the activities, models and results of the project can be used as a basis for the creation and/or adaptation of strategies and policies in other World Heritage Sites at the national level.