Peru

/Tag: Peru

 

25 07, 2023

    In Peru’s Amazon, Indigenous women lead the way on conservation

    2025-04-24T17:10:53-04:00Country: |

    Ema Tapullima, a member of the Kukama Kukamiria community of Puerto Prado, is an Indigenous Peruvian woman and forest guardian. As a community leader, she is fighting to ensure biodiversity protection along the Marañón River in North Western Peru. Named ‘Irwato Natural Paradise,’ the 100 hectares of land constitute a private environmental conservation area under community protection and custodianship, forming part of Peru’s system of protected natural areas. The women of Puerto Prado are fighting an ongoing battle against environmental crime with their land threatened by illegal loggers, wildlife poaching, and extractive mining. Armed with ancestral knowledge and community leadership, the women and families of Puerto Prado are ensuring the active and ongoing care for the territory and ecosystem that their children will inherit. This frontline work against extraction, prejudice, and exploitation is filled with ongoing challenges, but it will not stop Indigenous communities like Puerto Prado who are taking conservation into their own hands.

    25 07, 2023

      In Peru’s Amazon, Indigenous women lead the way on conservation

      2024-02-20T10:52:09-05:00Country: |

      Currently in Peru, more than 394,000 hectares of land are protected under 139 PCAs, or private conservation areas, that aim to not only conserve nature, but to value and encourage its protection. However, due to a lack of government support, such initiatives are under threat. Despite women’s vulnerability and connection to the land, more PCA owners are male than female. These gaps have left women out of important decision-making despite research that shows that women’s leadership in natural resource management has better environmental outcomes. Peru has also been named the third most dangerous country in South America for land defenders, leaving women with an increased risk of harm while speaking out or protecting the land.  Indigenous women leaders throughout Peru continue to educate on the importance of women defenders, protecting women's voices, and passing critical policies, such as the Escazú agreement. Photo Credit: Sally Jabiel/Dialogo Chino

      20 07, 2023

        The Artist Demanding Accountability and Restoration for Peru’s Worst Oil Spill

        2025-04-18T10:57:47-04:00Country: |

        Amidst the devastation caused by Peru's worst oil spill, artist Lizeth Lozano Palomino’s project "Orilla Negra" emerges as a powerful beacon of accountability and restoration. Through a fusion of raw imagery and intimate storytelling, "Orilla Negra" amplifies the voices of those impacted, demanding justice and action from both Repsol and the Peruvian government. Triggered by Repsol's catastrophic mishap off the coast of Lima, Palomino’s poignant documentation captures the profound human and environmental toll exacted by corporate negligence. Her recognition as the winner of #CreateCOP27 underscores the urgent need for climate-related discourse, especially as fossil fuel interests continue to wield undue influence. In spite of corporate indifference and governmental inaction, Palomino's unwavering commitment to her cause remains undeterred—a testament to the enduring power of art in the face of ecological crisis and systemic apathy.

        20 04, 2023

          The Forest Beyond

          2025-02-13T13:30:17-05:00Country: |

          The Shipibo people of the Peruvian Amazon have lived symbiotically with the rainforest for thousands of generations. The Shipibo people are caretakers of the jungle, and in recent years have begun fighting against loggers, colonizing farmers, palm plantations, and massive deforestation efforts that are swallowing their ancestral lands. Senen Kasi, a young woman from Santa Isabel de Bahuanisho, has never seen the large, virgin trees or forests that her elders spoke of. On a mission to reconnect to her ancestral lands, Senen links with elder Sanken Kena to journey into the retreating forest. Once stretching to her village, now barren, Senen reconnects to the healing, medicinal, and ecological magic of the Amazonian jungle. She aims to bring the wisdom of the forest back to her community, and call others to action in the protection and regeneration of her lands.

          17 08, 2022

            Recovering biodiversity in Brazil’s pioneering Atlantic Forest through conservation and ecological restoration

            2025-03-24T18:42:00-04:00Country: , |

            Lake Titicaca is home to the giant Titicaca water frog, an endangered species that is rapidly dying due to poaching and pollution. Indigenous women scientists and community leaders are spearheading the initiative to protect it and treat Lake Titicaca to restore its resilience and health through various organizations, including research organizations and Mujeres Unidas, a group of women committed to saving the lake. Teresa Camacho Badani, a herpetologist studying the Titicaca water frogs, has rescued frogs to hold in captivity, ensuring the species does not go extinct. Elvira Chicani, a community leader in Perka Norte, helps maintain the local frog population by preventing poaching and educating community members about the species’s importance. Environmental engineer Elizabeth Zenteno emphasizes that Lake Titicaca cannot heal from pollution and degradation without people’s help. These women have committed themselves to protecting the various facets of the lake, its health, and its ecosystem.

            28 06, 2022

              Peruvian Women Demand Accountability for Toxic Water Contamination

              2025-04-18T11:42:21-04:00Country: |

              Peruvian women are urging action against Glencore, the Anglo-Swiss mining giant, for contaminating their drinking water with toxic heavy metals. Esmeralda Larota and others in the vicinity of Glencore’s Tintaya-Antapaccay mine have high levels of arsenic, manganese, cadmium, lead, and mercury in their bodies, causing severe health issues. Despite scientific evidence of water contamination, neither Glencore nor the Peruvian state has taken responsibility. The community faces environmental degradation, social conflict, and health crises, with increasing calls for legislative action and corporate accountability to protect their rights and environment.

              15 06, 2021

                Liz Chicaje: Activist whose Fight Created a National Park

                2025-04-18T11:21:47-04:00Country: |

                Liz Chicaje Churay, a member of the Indigenous Bora community in Perú, has emerged as a beacon of grassroots activism, earning global recognition for her pivotal role in establishing the Yaguas National Park. This pristine expanse of Amazon rainforest, spanning over two million acres, stands as a testament to Chicaje's unwavering dedication to protecting her ancestral lands. Alongside fellow Indigenous leaders, Chicaje spearheaded a decades-long campaign to secure official designation for the park, fending off threats from illegal loggers and miners. Their efforts culminated in a landmark victory in 2018 when the Peruvian government formally established the park, safeguarding its rich biodiversity and cultural significance. For Chicaje and her community, this achievement represents more than conservation; it symbolizes a triumph of resilience and solidarity against forces of exploitation. As a recipient of the prestigious Goldman Prize, Chicaje continues to advocate for indigenous rights and environmental stewardship, inspiring others to safeguard the natural heritage that sustains us all.

                8 03, 2018

                  “The river is a mother”: 4 indigenous women water protectors from Peru’s amazon

                  2025-04-09T20:30:23-04:00Country: |

                  On the occasion of International Women’s Day, four Indigenous women who are part of the movement demanding justice for communities affected by the North Peruvian Pipeline near the Marañón River Basin spoke out about the injustices they have faced. They called for an independent study of the pipeline, a Truth Commission, and full remediation of oil blocks. The women emphasized the importance of the Marañón River, describing not only the consequences of its pollution on their health but also affirming its role as a mother of life. No longer able to rely on the river for sustenance, they urged the Peruvian government to supply food and water, highlighting the urgency of the situation. To them, the responsibility lies with both the state-owned Petroperú company, which operates the pipeline, and the Peruvian government. As long as the pipeline remains unsecured, there is no guarantee that Indigenous communities will not continue to suffer harm. They demand increased respect for their communities and their health. Women are particularly affected—witnessing the deterioration of their children’s health and often bearing the responsibility of collecting rainwater to ensure access to safe drinking water.

                  9 06, 2017

                    Indigenous Women Protect The Amazon Rain Forest

                    2017-10-14T16:08:58-04:00Country: |

                    As climate change intensifies, Peru's Indigenous women are losing valuable opportunities to protect the forests due to the insufficient protection of their rights. Ketty Marcelo, a native from the Pucharini community, advocates for changing legal frameworks that discriminate against Indigenous women in Peru. Despite the fact that women play a fundamental role in the conservation of biodiversity, the national government is not doing enough to ensure women's role as the protectors of the lands that belong to Indigenous communities. In addition, a new report highlights that when women's rights are not respected within the communities, the environment can suffer. Marcelo and her peers are making their voices heard to challenge the patriarchy. Photo credit: Marco Garro/AFP/Getty Images

                    26 03, 2017

                      Making Women Proud: Rosa Palomino Chahuares And The Women Of Uma

                      2017-10-26T16:16:59-04:00Country: |

                      Advocate for women’s and Indigenous rights, Rosa Palomino Chahuares of Peru, works as a radio-broadcaster and activist with the Network of Indigenous Communicators of Peru and UMA (Union of Aymara Women of Abya Yala) - working to protect the Aymara culture and language, and confront patriarchy in her community. Through her work with UMA’s women’s radio program, Wiñay Pankara (“always blooming”), Chahuares helps brings to light the situation and voices of Aymara women who are working for sustainability and justice in their communities. The women leaders continue to face challenges in gaining access to broadcast time and space on Peru’s national channels, but continue ceaselessly in their growing efforts. Photo credit: Rosa Palomino Chahuares

                      26 10, 2016

                        Maxima Acuña Under Attack For Her Resistance Against Mining In Peru – Interview With Sian Cowman

                        2017-10-26T18:01:33-04:00Country: |

                        Environmental land defender Maxima Acuña faces physical attacks for her resistance against a mining company in Peru. In this interview with the Democracy Center, she explains why extractivism means more violence for women and what we can do to support vital efforts to stand with her and her colleagues and community members. Photo credit: The Democracy Center

                        26 10, 2016

                          In Peru, This Young Activist Is Sparking A Movement For Climate Justice

                          2017-10-26T17:59:32-04:00Country: |

                          Majandra Rodriguez Acha is a young climate woman of Peru uniting urban and Indigenous communities across her country for vital dialogue and action around issues of resource extraction, Indigenous Rights violations, violence against women and the Earth, and much more. Photo credit: Global Greengrants

                          9 08, 2016

                            Ancestral Farming Techniques Resurge In Peru

                            2017-07-17T17:12:40-04:00Country: |

                            As President of the Indigenous Women of Laramate organization in rural Peru, Magaly Garayar teaches ancestral farming techniques to combat climate change and improve food security. Through selecting healthy seeds, rotating crops to improve soil fertility, and effective irrigation, women are now seeing better yields that they sell in local markets. Through their work, the women are taking steps to combat patriarchal norms and promote women’s leadership and gender equality. Photo credit: CHIRAPAQ

                            14 10, 2015

                              Rural Peruvian Women Spur Local Dairy Industry

                              2017-07-17T16:49:35-04:00Country: |

                              Cira Huancahuari, the President of the Association of Indigenous Women of the district Lamarate, Peru, is one of the women leaders building a sustainable local economy through an all-women’s cheese and yogurt production association. Their collective of rural women continues to grow and boost economic independence and Indigenous women’s rights across the region. Photo credit: CHIRAPAQ

                              13 10, 2015

                                How A 14-year-old girl Is Making Quechua Cool In Peru — With Lyrics From Michael Jackson

                                2017-09-06T21:55:56-04:00Country: |

                                14-year-old Peruvian Renata Flores Rivera is revitalizing the Inca language of Quechua, one of the oldest of 47 remaining Indigenous dialects in Peru, by remixing modern pop songs with Quechua lyrics. Although Quechua is the second most spoken language in the country, younger generations have overwhelming deserted the language calling it uncool and associating it with poverty. However, Rivera’s remixes have become an international Youtube sensation inspiring the young and old in Peru to proudly reflect on and embrace their Indigenous roots. Rivera has drastically transformed locals’ relation to the language creating a new wave of Indigenous awareness and dignity. Photo credit: PRI

                                28 06, 2015

                                  Women Farmers Act As Guardians Of Crop Diversity In The Andes

                                  2017-07-19T22:02:35-04:00Country: |

                                  Women in the Andes are using their traditional knowledge to conserve the agricultural biodiversity of local crops such as quinoa, maize, potatoes, oca, olluco, and mashua. The case study “Women Farmers and Andean Seeds” documents how Andean women in Peru promote biodiversity while contributing to the food security of their families and communities. Photo credit: Shutterstock

                                  19 06, 2015

                                    Faces Of Change: Adolfina Garcia

                                    2017-10-13T16:05:54-04:00Country: |

                                    Adolfina García, an Achuar Indigenous woman from the Corrientes Region of northern Peru, saw her son die due to contamination caused by the oil companies near her home. This article details how Adolfina and the leaders of five Achuar communities brought a lawsuit against Los Angeles-based Occidental Petroleum to demand reparations for the widespread destruction of their livelihoods. Photo credit: EarthRights International

                                    19 12, 2014

                                      How One Indigenous Woman Took On A Multinational Mining Corporation, And Won

                                      2017-08-26T14:35:39-04:00Country: |

                                      Máxima Acuña suffered violent eviction attempts, beatings and a lengthy legal battle for four years to protect her land from a multinational coal mining corporation - and won. Acuña and her family depend on her farmland and the clean waters of Lake Laguna Azul for drinking water and crop irrigation. The Minera Yanocha and Newmont Mining corporations attempted to displace this family in order to build an open-pit mine near the lake, but Acuña courageously defended her community and the environment. Photo credit: Jorge Chávez Ortiz

                                      30 04, 2014

                                        The Woman Who Breaks Mega-Dams

                                        2017-08-26T14:21:18-04:00Country: |

                                        Ruth Buendía Mestoquiari is an environmental rights defender who insists that the law is on her side. Invoking an International Labor Organization treaty that Peru ratified in 1994 and legislation passed in 2011, Buendía maintains that the Peruvian government must consult with Indigenous communities before launching infrastructure projects or mining concessions that will affect them, a process known as prior consultation. As the first female president of CARE, an organization which represents about 10,000 Indigenous Ashaninka in the Peruvian Amazon, she has successfully stopped the construction of two mega-dams along the Ene River. Photo credit: Goldman Environmental Prize

                                        30 10, 2013

                                          Maintaining The Ways Of Our Ancestors: Indigenous Women Address Food Sovereignty

                                          2017-08-19T12:36:28-04:00Country: |

                                          Indigenous women like Clemencia Herrera and Andrea Carmen gathered at the World Conference of Indigenous Women, which took place in Lima, Peru, October 28-30, 2013 to share traditional knowledge, discuss common challenges and develop solutions. Their shared initiatives included solidarity markets, schools to educate Indigenous youth about traditional foodways, community organizing, and building greenhouses in the Arctic and east Africa. Photo credit: Cultural Survival

                                          1 01, 2003

                                            Maria Elena Foronda Farro, 2003 Goldman Prize Recipient, South and Central America

                                            2017-10-18T11:01:16-04:00Country: |

                                            Peru is the world’s largest fishmeal producer, a product exported internationally to make animal feed, fertilizers and preservatives. However, the unregulated industrial production of fishmeal polluted the air and water of Chimbote, until Maria Elena Foronda Farro and her environmental group Natura petitioned the local government to impose safety regulations and standards on the industry. Because of her activism, Foronda was sentenced on false charges of terrorism to 20 years in prison, but hasn’t let that deter her from working for environmental protection in Peru. Photo credit: Goldman Environmental Prize

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