A Crisis of Illegality, Environment and Rights
ARPIAN—the regional Indigenous coalition representing communities along the Nanay, Tigre and other Amazon tributaries—has formally demanded the declaration of a national “state of emergency” to confront the growing scourge of illegal gold-mining in northern Peru. They highlight how unlicensed dredges, the use of mercury, and incursions by criminal networks are rapidly poisoning rivers, destroying forest cover and undermining community health and livelihoods. The group emphasises that the expansion of illicit mining is not only an environmental emergency, but also a foundational challenge to the dynamic of licence to operate (LTO) in the region.
From Absence of Governance to Community Alarm
The call comes amid evidence that unauthorised mining operations have migrated from the south of the Amazon into Loreto, Ucayali, Amazonas and Huánuco—often without formal oversight, permitting, or consultation with Indigenous Peoples. Local organisations argue the state’s regulatory apparatus has failed to keep pace, leaving communities on the front line of mineral-driven collapse. The demand for a high-level national commission and special coordination mechanism reflects Indigenous insistence on being a central partner—not just an impacted stakeholder—in addressing the governance gap.
License to Operate in Question
Beyond the immediate public-health and ecological dangers, the plea signals a crisis of legitimacy for Peru’s mining regime. When operations proceed without formal approval, ignore community consent and pollute water sources, they not only violate laws—they erode the social licence that underpins sustainable investment. For formal miners, investors and regulators alike, the message is clear: if the state cannot enforce baseline regulatory standards, the veneer of extractive legitimacy will continue to crumble. The Amazon demand for emergency intervention may well mark a turning point in how Peru must align mining, rights and governance.