The Yavarí Mirim reserve’s establishment has been delayed since 2003 due to pressures from logging and oil industries. Indigenous groups argue that these delays jeopardize isolated tribes as illegal activities creep into their territories. Recent actions by the Multi-Sector Commission have postponed crucial meetings regarding the reserve’s boundaries, exacerbating fears for the uncontacted populations’ future.
Since 2003, Indigenous organizations have urged the Peruvian government to establish the Yavarí Mirim reserve, aimed at protecting isolated Indigenous communities in the Amazon. This reserve, covering 1 million hectares, faces opposition from extractive industries seeking access for logging, oil, and gas activities, putting uncontacted tribes at further risk. Experts highlight that delays in the reserve’s creation allow encroachment by illegal loggers and drug traffickers.
The Multi-Sector Commission, managed by the Ministry of Culture, recently postponed a crucial meeting to define the reserve’s boundaries. This meeting’s delay is attributed to overlaps with another Native community’s claims, though Indigenous leaders argue that this is merely an excuse to halt the reserve’s progress. Pablo Chota Ruiz from ORPIO criticized this reasoning, pointing to ulterior motives linked to business interests in the area.
Past studies have recognized the presence of isolated groups like the Matsés, Matis, and Korubo. However, only a legally established reserve can effectively prevent outside contact and protect these tribes. Following recent setbacks, ORPIO has intensified lobbying efforts and discussions with various government departments to advocate for immediate demarcation of the Yavarí Mirim reserve to safeguard their isolated brothers.
Simultaneously, forestry organizations in Loreto have opposed the reserve’s establishment, fearing it would hinder their concessions in the region. They insist that acceptable methodologies for defining the reserve’s size have not been followed and claim entitlement to their existing bids. Moreover, environmental lawyer César A. Ipenza suggests that oil and gas interests might be instrumental in delaying the reserve’s formation.
The Ministry of Energy and Mines, alongside Perupetro, has been attempting to adjust laws to facilitate drilling in protected areas, showcasing an ongoing challenge for Indigenous rights amidst extractive industry pressures. Reports indicate that these activities threaten numerous Indigenous communities across Peru, as several concessions border their lands, even leading to potential conflicts over legal recognition of their existence.
Historically, many Indigenous groups retreated further into the forest due to past exploitation and violence during the rubber boom. They require expansive territories for hunting and gathering, highlighting the need for dedicated reserves. Contact with loggers and criminal groups is increasingly common—creating ‘ghost communities’ along their territories—putting Indigenous lives in jeopardy. Without timely protection measures, the survival of these tribes hangs in the balance.
The ongoing conflict over the Yavarí Mirim reserve underscores the precarious position of uncontacted Indigenous tribes in the Peruvian Amazon. The reluctance of government bodies to establish the reserve in the face of pressure from extractive industries raises urgent concerns about the safety and rights of these communities. Without immediate action, the traditional ways of life for these tribes may face irreversible threats.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
