Illegal logging rampant in Peru

A survey of 78 forestry concessions in Peru found that 46 (59 percent) were in breach of their concession contracts, reports the International Tropical Timber Organization (ITTO).

Monitoring conducted by Peru's Agency for Supervision of Forest Resources and Wildlife (OSINFOR) during 2009 found that many forestry companies were violating their operating plans by overharvesting timber. OSINFOR president Richard Bustamante warned that some concessions could be canceled and firms fined.

Peru has 556 forest timber concessions, covering 7.1 million hectares, according to the ITTO. Logging has expanded in recent years due to changes in land-use zoning laws and new infrastructure projects, which have opened once remote areas to exploitation. These legal changes have brought increased conflict with indigenous groups, including rainforest tribes.

Peru has the world's fourth largest area of rainforest after Brazil, Indonesia, and Democratic Republic of Congo.