A new Amazon highway threatens some of the rainforest's last uncontacted tribes
A new Amazon highway threatens some of the rainforest's last uncontacted tribes
Simeon Tegel on Nov 11, 2015 at 2:46 PM
LIMA, Peru — Peru has been basking in kudos from officially declaring a vast new national park in the remote Amazonian wilderness known as Sierra del Divisor.
President Ollanta Humala traveled there over the weekend to unveil the park — nearly 5,500 square miles of stunning tropical rainforest, home to numerous threatened species, including jaguars and various kinds of monkey.
He was under international pressure to protect the area from illegal logging, the cultivation of coca — the key ingredient in cocaine — and the construction of clandestine roads.
. . .
Peru’s Environment Ministry was only founded in 2008, as a condition of a trade treaty with Washington. The administration of President George W. Bush demanded it after coming under pressure from US environmentalists.
Saavedra said the ministry is doing the right thing by condemning the proposed new jungle road, but lacks the influence within the government of the economy and energy ministries, with whom it regularly clashes.
More:
http://www.globalpost.com/article/6685612/2015/11/11/peru-amazon-park-road
