Peru will relaunch in 2020 its program of forest concessions in the Amazon to develop the timber trade, ecotourism, fruit production and the preservation of species, the National Forest and Wildlife Service (Serfor) announced on Tuesday 28 January ).
The government wants to strengthen new economic sectors in order to stimulate the country's growth, whose exports are mainly based on the mining, agricultural and textile sectors, said the director of Serfor, Alberto Gonzales-Zúñiga. The program plans to shift 15 million hectares of forest into concessions, which is expected to increase the forest sector’s share of the economy, currently at 0.17% of GDP.
"It’s a very low number given the resources", commented the director of Serfor to the press. According to him, the forestry sector could, within 15 years, represent 4.5% to 5% of the country's GDP.
"40%" of wood produced in the country of "illegal origin"
The concessions will include forests for logging and others for ecotourism, the preservation of endangered species, and the production of fruits such as chestnuts, the main livelihood for some indigenous communities in Peru. Concessions "Natural forest" There are also plans to set aside land for tree planting. "The properties will be of all sizes, they will not only be giant concessions", said Gonzales-Zúñiga.
Some 95% of Peruvian forests are found in the Amazon. The jungle covers half the country, but its small population favors the illegal exploitation of trees like mahogany and cedar.
Peru had already launched a forest concessions program in 2002, which covered 10 million hectares. It did not give the expected results, only " two million (Ha) working well " while the other eight "Malfunction or have been abandoned", lamented Mr. Gonzales-Zúñiga. The abandonment of plots encourages illegal logging and "Currently, it is estimated that 40% of the total wood produced in the country is of illegal origin", according to Serfor.
Peru has 18 million hectares of forest, but forest exports are barely $ 200 million.
