Corruption in Peru Aids Cutting of Rain Forest

Gabriella Ricciardone

October 20, 2013

Authors: William Neuman and Andrea Zarate

Published: October 18, 2013

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/10/19/world/americas/corruption-in-peru-aids-cutting-of-rain-forest.html?ref=science&_r=1&

Summary:    

Over half of Peru is covered in dense forests, and the preservation of these forests is extremely important to fighting global warming and protecting the many plant and animal species only found in these regions.  The Peruvian logging industry is very powerful though, and illegal logging happens more often than not.  Recent laws were passed in Peru to stop this illegal logging, but large amounts of timber continue to be transported unlawfully.  This includes shipping rare types of wood like mahogany, which is only available in remote areas.  According to the World Bank, eighty percent of Peru’s logging exports are illegal.  Officials say that the wood is usually authorized to be shipped with doctored paperwork, or by rubber-stamping false documentation, in order to make the trade look legitimate.  In some cases, false documentation identifies these rare species of wood as a different kind to hide the fact that these species are being harvested.  The United States, Europe, and Australia have banned the imports of illegally harvested wood, but corruption and lack of enforcement continue to undermine these countries’ efforts.  Although Peru has made progress in fighting illegal logging and corruption, the problem persists.  The Peruvian government has created new laws that were mandated by a free trade agreement with the United States, but they still have not tackled the long-standing corruption.  A lack of interest on the part of the authorities to regulate the cutting down of forests is negatively influencing the problems further.  

Connection: 

During our studies of Chapter 34 and Chapter 35, we discussed tropical rain forests, the cutting down of forested areas, and the impact of deforestation on life and global warming.  This article talks about the harvesting of wood from trees in the rain forests of Peru and the corruption involved in these processes.  It also touches on the impact of shielding these rain forests from deforestation, including fighting global warming and protecting the diverse species of plants and animals that live there.  The ideal growing conditions of a rain forest, which include about 350 centimeters of rainfall yearly, result in a large diversity of plants.  Of all biomes, rain forests have by far the greatest diversity of life, with an estimated fifty percent of all known species on Earth living in these regions.  Clearing these forests for mining, farming, and lumbering has affected species in these rain forests, and has also affected global weather patterns.