Protection zone within a forestry concession
Wilderness International Peru has been officially appointed as the guardian of the buffer zone for a logging concession
Since September 2022, Wilderness International Peru has been officially appointed as the custodian of the buffer zone of the forestry concession held by Maderera Lazo SRL (Contract No. 17-TAM/C-J-AD-01-04). The protection of this area is of great importance because it borders our other protected areas and is also situated within the buffer zone of the Tambopata National Reserve. However, this is not a protected area owned by us and funded by donations.
We firmly believe that concessions such as these must be respected and protected from indiscriminate encroachment and illegal land trading. These are areas that the state has lawfully granted to the private sector for various economic purposes. Furthermore, these are areas of the Amazon rainforest that are not only important for the conservation of endangered species, but also provide a range of environmental services to Peruvian citizens and people around the world, including the mitigation of climate change, which is currently having a negative impact on so many people.
What is the protection zone of a forestry concession?
In Peru, concessions are granted for selective logging. However, every forestry concession must also include a protected area where no logging is permitted. This area is of particular importance for the preservation of biodiversity and the health of the ecosystem.
Acute threat from illegal logging and land deals
A few months ago, we discovered that the ‘Valle Verde’ and ‘Los Angeles’ associations had encroached upon the protected area covered by the concession in question. Part of the forest area had been cleared; makeshift shelters had been erected and crops planted. Combined with forged documents, this was intended to secure ownership of the land from the government so that the plots could be resold.
We are therefore now supporting the owner (Maderera Lazo SRL) in putting a stop to the illegal logging and preventing further damage. As part of this, we have repeatedly explained to the intruders that the land they are occupying and clear-cutting does not belong to them, and that they have no right to use it.
We have informed the members of the associations about the protected status of the area via information posters, and our forest guardians have, immediately upon detecting the intrusion, verbally and peacefully pointed out to those involved the unlawfulness of their activities. WIPERU provided the intruders with written and duly signed official notices regarding the area. They were asked to leave the area peacefully.
Violent clashes
The public prosecutor’s office and the police are taking action
WI Peru: a local, non-profit organisation dedicated to environmental protection
We would like to emphasise that WIPERU is not a profit-making organisation, but an association dedicated to protecting the environment. We have friendly ties with many local farmers who practise sustainable agriculture, and together we carry out agroforestry projects that enable them to earn a living without destroying large areas of nature.
We reject any behaviour that harms the environment under the guise of sound agricultural practice, particularly in areas we are tasked with protecting.
We also reject demonstrations against our organisation or our partners that aim to legitimise illegal activities within this or any other concession in Madre de Dios.
For further information, please use the following contact details:
Dr Christopher Kirkby
, Chairman of the Board
Wildnis International Peru – WIPERU
Pasaje Las Crisnejas, Plot 11
, Puerto Maldonado
, Madre de Dios
Email: chris.kirkby@wilderness-international.org
WhatsApp: +51 993915158
Jorge Pantigoso Lobón
, Solicitor for WIPERU
Registered office: Jr. Gonzales Prada 1056
, Puerto Maldonado
, Madre de Dios