On June 27, 2025, leaders from 33 Indigenous and rural communities along Peru’s Nanay River filed a formal complaint with the Andean Community’s Secretariat General, accusing the Peruvian government of failing to enforce a regional anti–illegal mining agreement. The complaint asserts that illegal gold mining is releasing toxic mercury into their rivers, contaminating fish and water—staples of their diet. According to local reports, over 80% of residents, including young children, have mercury blood levels exceeding safe limits. Evidence of serious health issues—developmental delays, chronic pain, and neurological problems—is mounting, underscoring the urgent need for state action.
These communities say the issue goes beyond environmental contamination; illegal mining operators bring with them armed groups, exploitative labor practices, and weakened local governance. Women in some areas report increased risks of sexual exploitation and social instability. By taking their case to a regional authority—rather than focusing on compensation—they are emphasizing their right to a voice in safeguarding their environment and livelihoods. This move highlights a profound erosion of trust in government oversight and reinforces the reality that legal frameworks mean little without community confidence—the essence of social license to operate.
The stakes are clear: without a credible social contract, extractive activities whether illegal or formal—risk backlash that extends far beyond courtrooms. The communities’ action sends a stark warning to both state and mining companies: if public concerns are ignored, legitimacy collapses, inviting regional scrutiny, reputational damage, and even stricter regulations. Rebuilding trust will require transparent enforcement, meaningful engagement, and tangible health and environmental safeguards. This crisis shows that in Peru’s mining frontier, maintaining a social license is not just a regulatory formality—it is fundamental to the survival and legitimacy of any resource governance model.