RESERVA TAMBOPATA PUNO, PELIGRA

1,000 illegal miners found in Tambopata Reserve

Alvaro Tassano

It was reported yesterday after authorities conducted several raids to destroy illegal mining camps.

(Photo: El Comercio)

The National Service of Protected Natural Areas (Sernanp) announced in a statement on October 3 that they had found indications of the presence of an estimated 1,000 illegal miners in the Tambopata National Reserve, Madre de Dios and Puno.

Inside the reserve, Illegal miners have installed food services, lodging and workshops to repair their machinery. This was proven by authorities who entered the area in recent weeks. During the same operation the managed to destroy 18 make shift camps built by these miners.

The operations that were carried out between September 25 and October 2 also helped destroy 27 rafts, 11 engines, among other tools used for this illegal activity like hoppers, suction pumps, motorcycles and fuel.

These actions had the participation of members of the Coastguards (DICAPI), park rangers of the Reserve and specialists of environmental issues in the regional prosecutor.
Eleven municipalities in the Madre de Dios region are in a state of emergency since May 23 due to the high levels of mercury found in the rivers caused by illegal mining.