In the heart of Lima, Peru, there is a green lung that defies concrete: the Bosque El Olivar.
This green lung, located in the district of San Isidro, today boasts more than 1670 olive trees that were planted over 400 years ago and continue purifying the air of the Peruvian capital.
Currently, the forest covers 10 hectares of urban land, with 85% of its total vegetation composed of olive trees.
Additionally, 227 trees of 44 other species coexist. Among them stands out an Araucaria over 40 meters tall and nearly 80 years old, considered a heritage tree.
Bosque El Olivar: a legacy that began with three saplings
The history of the Bosque El Olivar dates back to 1560, during the Viceroyalty of Peru.
At the time, the Spanish gentleman Antonio de Rivera was the one who imported the first olive plants from Seville.
However, only three of them survived the transatlantic journey: nevertheless, their resilience was enough to give rise to a unique ecosystem.
Almost 200 years later, from these three plants, more than 2000 olive trees were born.
By 1821, when Peru achieved its independence, the number reached 3000 trees, although many were felled by the Spaniards during that period.
Until the 1920s, the forest was part of the extensive property of the Count of San Isidro.
Over time, financial difficulties forced the subdivision of the land into 41 lots, and thus the development of the San Isidro neighborhood began.
During urbanization, the owners integrated the existing olive trees into their yards and, shortly after, in 1931, the district was politically created by law No. 7113.
On December 16, 1959, under Supreme Resolution No. 577, the Bosque El Olivar was declared a National Monument.
Then, in 1998 it received the status of a monumental zone and, more recently, in 2017, it was designated as a environmental conservation area.
Tradition has it that San Martín de Porres, the 17th-century Peruvian saint, planted one of these olive trees with his own hands.
This gesture symbolizes the humility and love for the land that characterize the history of the forest.
What is the Bosque El Olivar like in Lima, Peru
The ecosystem hosts approximately 22 species of birds, featuring specimens such as:
- the cuculí;
- the turtupilín;
- the saffron finch (Sicalis flaveola);
- the blue-gray tanager (Thraupis episcopus);
- the roadside hawk.
It is also possible to observe bees in some trees.
In the surroundings of the forest, the Centro Cultural El Olivar, the Municipal Library, and the Casa Museo Marina Núñez del Prado operate.
These spaces allow art and history to coexist with nature.
The Bosque El Olivar represents an exemplary case of urban environmental conservation in South America.
This green lung demonstrates that it is possible to maintain harmony between nature, history, and architecture amidst the fast pace of a modern metropolis.
The more than 400 years of history of these centennial olive trees continue to offer shade, clean air, and beauty to the inhabitants of Lima.
