Peru's Amarakaeri Reserve Faces Deforestation Surge Amid Illegal Activities

Peru's Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, long considered one of the best-protected nature reserves in the country, is now confronting a significant spike in deforestation along its fringes. The ancestral lands of the Harakbut, Yine, and Matsiguenka indigenous communities are under threat due to the expansion of illegal coca cultivation, mining, and new road construction in the reserve's buffer zone.

Between 2001 and 2023, a staggering 19,978 hectares of forest were lost in the buffer zone surrounding the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. "If the deforestation drivers in the buffer zone are left unchecked, the activity will spread into the protected area itself," caution indigenous leaders, who assert that the Peruvian government is doing little to address the pressing issue.

The Amarakaeri Communal Reserve, co-managed by an indigenous organization and the Peruvian Protected Areas Agency, is a haven for numerous endangered and endemic species. However, the proposed 96-kilometer extension of the Nuevo Edén-Boca Manú highway could lead to more than 11,350 hectares of deforestation over the next decade, jeopardizing the lives of indigenous peoples living in voluntary isolation.

Indigenous leaders are urging the Peruvian Congress to reject a bill that would declare the proposed highway expansion and other road projects as being of national importance. They argue that such a move would violate their collective rights and disregard their views as indigenous organizations.

Why this matters: The deforestation surge in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve highlights the ongoing struggle to protect the Amazon rainforest and the rights of indigenous communities. The situation emphasizes the need for stronger government action and international support to combat illegal activities and ensure the preservation of this critical ecosystem.

The Peruvian government faces mounting pressure to address the deforestation crisis in the Amarakaeri Communal Reserve. Indigenous leaders stress the urgency of the situation, warning that failure to act could have devastating consequences for both the environment and the indigenous communities who call the reserve home. "The state is doing practically nothing to address the issue," they lament, calling for immediate and effective measures to safeguard the reserve and its inhabitants.

Key Takeaways

• Amarakaeri Communal Reserve in Peru faces surging deforestation in buffer zone.
• 19,978 hectares of forest lost in buffer zone from 2001-2023 due to illegal activities.
• Proposed highway expansion could lead to 11,350 hectares of deforestation in 10 years.
• Indigenous leaders urge Peru to reject bill declaring highway as nationally important.
• Peruvian government accused of inaction, as deforestation threatens indigenous communities.