Peru: New study shows impact of mining on indigenous people, environment

Scarred landscape

The destruction of nature, the displacement of indigenous people and human trafficking - these these are just some of the effects of mining in south eastern Peru documented in new research carried out by the Dominican Missionaries Jose Pio Aza Cultural Center, with support from the Secretariat for the 'Selvas Amazonicas' Missions.

The results of the research, collected in the e-book 'Extraction of wood, gold and gas in the southern Peruvian Amazon: Impacts and controversies', describe and analyze the socio-cultural, economic and environmental impact of the extraction and exploitation of natural resources.

A description of the objective data is accompanied by a critical evaluation by Dominican missionaries on the effects of such reckless exploitation of natural resources on the people. The work also highlights the pastoral response of the Apostolic Vicariate of Puerto Maldonado and the Dominican missionaries. Often faced with the risks and emergencies triggered by the uncontrolled exploitation of natural resources, they give priority to the protection of life, liberty and dignity of "the most vulnerable and disadvantaged social groups."

For more information see: www.selvasperu.org/