By David Hill, February 11 2013. Source: The Guardian
Pluspetrol’s Pagoreni-B gas well, part of the Camisea project in the Amazon jungle near Cuzco, Peru. Photograph: Cris Bouroncle/AFP
An energy company is eyeing up the gas reserves of a national park in the Peruvian Amazon whose biodiversity Unesco says “exceeds that of any other place on Earth” and is home to indigenous people who have no regular contact with the outside world, leaked documents seen by the Guardian show.
The revelation about Manú national park follows rumours and reports circulating in Peru that the government will create a gas concession bordering or including parts of the park, but which have not been publicly confirmed.
The document, Research Plan for Geological Exploration and Surface Geochemistry in the Manú National Park and its Buffer Zone, was written by Lima-based consultancy Quartz Services for company Pluspetrol, which operates an existing gas concession in the region, Lot 88, known as the Camisea project.
“It’s shocking. This is the first time we’ve seen evidence for plans to expand hydrocarbon activities into Manú,” said anthropologist Daniel Rodriguez, who has worked with Peruvian indigenous federation Fenamad for years. Continue reading
Christy Rodgers
Global Justice Ecology Project
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Jeff Conant
