Peru intensifies mining controls and implements El Niño water safeguards

Peru's Ministry of Environment (Minam) and the National Service of Natural Areas Protected by the State (Sernanp) have intensified surveillance and control operations to combat illegal mining in the Tambopata National Reserve. Minister Vladimiro Huaroc and the National Prosecutor supervised interdiction efforts in the Yarinal sector to protect Amazonian biodiversity. Since 2019, illegal mining has impacted approximately 940 hectares within the reserve and 16,814 hectares in its buffer zone. Over 130 operations have been conducted through joint efforts involving the Navy, National Police, and the Army.

In Lima and Callao, the water utility Sedapal is conducting preventive maintenance on the Rímac River to mitigate risks associated with the El Niño phenomenon. The project involves removing approximately 400,000 cubic meters of sediment, stones, and debris from a six-kilometer stretch upstream of the La Tarjea plant. Sedapal clarified that these desiltation works, scheduled to conclude in October, will not cause water service interruptions for residents.