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Peru's Government to Reduce National Park for Oil & Gas Exploration

(LIP-ir) -- The protected and pristine forest to the west and south of Tambopata Research Center in Peru, a famous ecotourism destination, can be profoundly affected by a legal amendment proposed to the Ministers Council on September 25, 2007.

The amendment aims to reduce the Bahuaja Sonene National Park by 209,000 hectares (516,000 acres) and open it to oil and gas exploration, among other activities.

The area at risk is an uninhabited and pristine tract of rainforest in the Candamo and Tambopata basins, home to record numbers of plant and animal species, declared by The National Geographic Society as one of the world's seven "iconic natural sanctuaries."

Thousands of ecotourists visit Madre-de-Dios every year to visit the incredible spectacles of hundreds of parrots and macaws at clay licks. This is also one of the last strong holds of the world's largest otter - the Giant otter, and jaguars and other large wildlife are also abundant in the area.

Environmentalists allege that a consortium of oil companies have been behind a new bill which aims to reduce the area of Bahuaja-Sonene National Park by 19.22%. It is thought that the oil and gas companies may be capitalizing on the country's recent misfortunes caused by an earthquake to push through what would have been an unpopular proposal under normal circumstances. A high-ranking government official linked to protected areas has already resigned in protest.

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# Splaktar says :
3 October, 2007 [ 01:03 ]

That would be unfortunate.

# R. Gomez Aguero says :
3 October, 2007 [ 09:39 ]

Una barbaridad inadmisible.

# J. Christine says :
3 October, 2007 [ 12:47 ]

This must not be done. This area is one of Peru's National Treasures and Tourism will be increasing, henceforth 'monetary gain'. If that's what the Government is looking for.

As far as Gas prices, the World sympathizes with Peru. Drive more Mototaxis and conserve.

Leave the Protected National Jungle out of the Equation!

Ghia/Christine

# ct Sahley Buendia says :
3 October, 2007 [ 14:26 ]

To sign a petition that will be given the Peruvian Congress and other authorities and comment on the proposed legislation please visit
 http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/131504673

# Peruanista says :
3 October, 2007 [ 23:45 ]

Mining, oil and natural gas exploration and extraction projects would increase dramatically with the US-Peru Free Trade Agreement, leading to extensive damage to the Peruvian environment, especially the Andes mountains region and the Amazon basin, which is the largest virgin forest on the planet.

With this FTA, multinational corporations would have the right to sue governments if any attempt to protect the environment would cause the companies to see their profits reduced. In addition, this agreement establishes secret trade tribunals, making trade rules more powerful than democratic institutions and domestic laws.

As a result, entire Indigenous communities could be displaced from their lands and pushed into extermination. These FTA regulations directly contradict the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples recently adopted by the United Nations, which includes the rights to protect their land and natural resources.

 

PLEASE CONTACT US CONGRESS TO OPPOSE THE US-PERU FTA DEAL:

Click here for more information

# Splaktar says :
4 October, 2007 [ 00:23 ]

I don't think those comments are accurate.  The US-Peru FTA has a number of added sections that add both protection of the environment and protection of worker's rights.  Both things have been neglected in Peru for some time now (and did not exist before the FTA).  Peru had to change their laws to make provide stricter protection of both the Environment and Worker's rights as part of the 2nd round of the FTA agreement.

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