A second hydrocarbon boom threatens the Peruvian Amazon: trends, projections, and policy implications

Abstract

The Peruvian Amazon is home to extraordinary biological and cultural diversity, and vast swaths of this mega-diverse region remain largely intact. Recent analysis indicates, however, that the rapid proliferation of oil and gas exploration zones now threatens the region's biodiversity, indigenous peoples, and wilderness areas. To better elucidate this dynamic situation, we analyzed official Peruvian government hydrocarbon information and generated a quantitative analysis of the past, present, and future of oil and gas activities in the Peruvian Amazon. We document an extensive hydrocarbon history for the region-over 104 000 km of seismic lines and 679 exploratory and production wells-highlighted by a major exploration boom in the early 1970s. We show that an unprecedented 48.6% of the Peruvian Amazon has been recently covered by oil and gas concessions, up from just 7.1% in 2003. These oil and gas concessions overlap 17.1% of the Peruvian Amazon protected area system and over half of all titled indigenous lands. Moreover, we found that up to 72% of the Peruvian Amazon has been zoned for hydrocarbon activities (concessions plus technical evaluation agreements and proposed concessions) in the past two years, and over 84% at some point during the past 40 years. We project that the recent rapid proliferation of hydrocarbon zones will lead to a second exploration boom, characterized by over 20 000 km of new seismic testing and construction of over 180 new exploratory wells in remote, intact, and sensitive forest areas. As the Peruvian Amazon oil frontier rapidly expands, we conclude that a rigorous policy debate is urgently needed in order to avoid the major environmental impacts associated with the first exploration boom of the 1970s and to minimize the social conflict that recently led to deadly encounters between indigenous protesters and government forces.

Vulnerability and adaptive capacity of community food systems in the Peruvian Amazon: a case study from Panaillo

“…Similarly, in this research area, the growth of extractive industries in the Peruvian Amazon amidst low institutional capacity has contributed to widespread resource degradation throughout the area (Goy & Waltner-Toews, 2005;Finer & Orta-Martínez, 2010;). Most illegal logging in the Pucallpa area is done through illegal concessions, in which community members sell timber directly to companies (Cossío et al, 2014).…”

“…Other studies have also documented the decline of animal and fish species as a result of extractive practices (Finer & Orta-Martínez, 2010;Hern, 1992).…”

“…Oil exploration and mining are more concentrated in other regions, such as Madre de Dios (Finer & Orta-Martínez, 2010). However, four community respondents and four institutional interviewees expressed concern over river contamination and erosion that have resulted from oil and mining operations located both upstream and downstream from Panaillo.…”

“…Recent trends in Peru's political economy indicate that current extractive practices will continue or even intensify in the future (Pantigoso, 2014;Finer & Orta-Martínez, 2010). …”

“…To a great extent, this economic growth is expected to come from mining, oil and gas industries, rather than improvements in education or health (United Nations, 2014;Pantigoso, 2014). Since 2003, hydrocarbon investments in the Peruvian Amazon have increased to unprecedented levels (Pantigoso, 2014;Finer & Martínez, 2010). Over 84% of the Peruvian Amazon has been or is currently zoned for oil and gas activities and over half of those concessions are located on legally titled indigenous territories (Finer & OrtaMartínez, 2010).…”