BOGOTA, Colombia — A recent legislative change in Peru that alters the Forestry and Wildlife Law has drawn severe criticism from environmental and Indigenous groups. They argue the amendment could fast-track deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the Earth’s “lungs,” under the pretext of promoting economic growth.
Previously, landowners in Peru were required to obtain governmental authorization before transforming forested areas for other purposes. This safeguard has been removed, raising concerns that such a move could sanction years of illegal deforestation.
Alvaro Masquez Salvador, an attorney affiliated with the Indigenous Peoples program at Peru’s Legal Defense Institute, expressed grave concerns about the amendment. He highlighted a dangerous shift towards the privatization of lands that the constitution protects as national assets. “Forests are national properties, not private holdings,” Masquez Salvador emphasized.
Proponents of the March-enacted amendment argue that it will provide stability to Peru’s agricultural sector and grant farmers more legal certainty. Efforts to contact Peru’s agribusiness and legislative supporters for comment were largely unmet, with many choosing not to respond.
Peru is home to the world’s second-largest portion of the Amazon Rainforest, which spans over 70 million hectares and includes territories critical for biodiversity and over 50 Indigenous communities. These areas are not only vital for environmental health but also play a crucial role in global climate stabilization through their absorption of carbon dioxide.
Legal challenges to the amendment have been significant, with Peru’s Constitutional Court striking down certain aspects but leaving intact key provisions that allow historical unauthorized deforestation. Critics, including environmental lawyer César Ipenza, note that while the court recognized the law’s infringement on Indigenous rights, it upheld the most detrimental parts.
The amendment’s support base includes a coalition of agribusiness stakeholders, land speculators, and individuals linked to illegal activities, which mirrors political-economic dynamics observed in other countries like Brazil under former President Jair Bolsonaro. Concerns extend beyond legal implications, indicating a convergence of legal and illicit interests according to Vladimir Pinto, field coordinator for Amazon Watch.
Adding a layer of complexity, there are claims that the legislative changes are intended to align with upcoming European Union regulations. These regulations require companies to demonstrate that imported goods like soy and palm oil have not been produced on illegally deforested land. Critics, including Julia Urrunaga, Peru director at the Environmental Investigation Agency, argue that legalizing previously illegal deforested lands would undermine international efforts to prevent deforestation.
Olivier Coupleux, a European Union representative, clarified that the EU’s regulations aim to promote sustainability and do not necessitate legal reforms but rather transparency and traceability in the procurement of goods prone to deforestation concerns.
With domestic legal avenues exhausted, civil society groups are contemplating international legal action, indicating that the implications of Peru’s legislative change could resonate beyond its borders. Indigenous leaders, including Julio Cusurichi from the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest, view the law as an existential threat that encourages encroachment on Indigenous lands and dilutes environmental protections.
The unfolding legal, environmental, and social ramifications of Peru’s Forestry and Wildlife Law amendment reveal deep divisions regarding the management of one of the planet’s most vital ecological resources.
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