Due to the “potential impacts” on the environment, Germany, Norway and the United Kingdom have expressed their views on the amendments to the Peruvian Forestry and Wildlife Law, enacted by the Peruvian Congress last week.
The joint declaration, in which Canada also participated, joins a series of statements from different national and international institutions such as the Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest (AIDESEP), producers’ associations, the Ombudsman’s Office, the Ministry of the Environment, among others. The Executive observed the regulation and the President of the Council of Ministers, Alberto Otárola, announced a new debate on this issue.
The international pronouncement was made in the framework of the Joint Declaration of Intent (JIU) on cooperation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions due to deforestation and forest degradation, of which Peru is a partner, and by which it assumes international commitments in defence of the Amazon. The norm also collides with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“As donors, we look forward to discussing with the Peruvian authorities how these changes would affect initiatives to protect and sustainably use forests, as well as the rights of indigenous peoples,” they said in their statement.
Articles 29 and 33 of Law 29763 were amended to authorise complementary provisions promoting forest zoning. These reforms “will accelerate the rate of destruction of the Amazon, legalise and encourage the deforestation of forests and leave indigenous defenders even more unprotected,” AIDESEP said in another communiqué.
