BTS fans in Peru have taken their support beyond concerts by helping plant around 2,000 native trees near Machu Picchu as part of an official conservation campaign.
According to Peruvian media reports, members of the local ARMY fandom joined the March 31 launch of the One Million Trees for the Machu Picchu Historic Sanctuary campaign in Cusco.
The environmental project was organized by Peru's National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State, known as Sernanp, under the Ministry of Environment. The campaign aims to restore areas affected by wildfires and soil degradation around the historic sanctuary.
Peruvian magazine Caretas reported that BTS fans planted approximately 2,000 native trees, including aliso, queñua, and chachacomo species. The restored area has since been referred to by supporters as the “BTS Forest.”
Sernanp also highlighted the fans' participation in a statement about how new groups are becoming involved in protecting Machu Picchu.
Sernanp chief José Carlos Nieto Navarrete said, “We are seeing new groups joining conservation efforts.”
A representative of the Peruvian BTS fan community said the project was inspired by the group's environmental messages and activities.
She explained, “As Peru ARMY, we wanted to turn that message into action. We wanted to show that together, we can create positive change.”
The conservation effort has gained renewed attention as BTS prepares for its first concerts in Peru as a full seven-member group. The group is scheduled to perform three sold-out shows at Estadio San Marcos in Lima on October 7, 9, and 10 as part of its ARIRANG world tour.
Peruvian fans have prepared several other welcome projects, including a drone show, concert fan events, and BTS-themed activities around Lima.
However, the tree-planting project stands out for its long-term environmental focus. Rather than being created only for the concerts, the project was carried out months earlier as part of Peru's broader effort to restore and protect the ecosystem surrounding Machu Picchu.
The location also has a connection to BTS. V and Jimin have previously mentioned Machu Picchu as a place they would like to visit, with V reportedly telling a Peruvian fan on Weverse that Machu Picchu was what he most wanted to see during the group's visit.
With around 2,000 native trees planted through the government-backed conservation campaign, Peruvian ARMY has turned BTS' arrival into an environmental project designed to remain long after the concerts are over.
