Peru's plan to drastically reduce Nazca Lines park size sparks concerns over environmental and heritage risks
Critics say the rollback paves the way for informal mining and weakens decades of cultural and ecological protection, while the government says the adjustment reflects updated scientific studies and does not compromise the UNESCO World Heritage status or the site's core protections.
'The reduction not only removes protections — it does so precisely where extractive activity is expanding,' said Mariano Castro, Peru's former vice minister of the environment, adding that the decision could cause 'very serious risks and cumulative damage,' as it excludes zones with active or pending mining claims.
Castro added that safeguards for archaeological heritage during the formalization of artisanal mining are already limited.
'This is made worse by the ministry of culture's failure to consider the cumulative impact of dozens or even hundreds of mining operations on sensitive archaeological zones,' he said.
The area in question forms part of a UNESCO-recognized World Heritage Site, home to the Nazca Lines — massive geoglyphs etched into the desert thousands of years ago — and one of Peru's most fragile desert ecosystems.
UNESCO told The Associated Press it hasn't been notified by Peruvian authorities of any changes to the boundaries of the World Heritage site, which are crucial for its protection. The organization will request more information from the authorities.
Peruvian environmental lawyer César Ipenza, who has closely followed the decision, said the resolution has already been approved and that it reduces the Nazca zone by more than 1,000 hectares.
'This is a weakening of both environmental and cultural protections,' Ipenza said. 'The state should be upholding its commitments under international agreements, not yielding to private interests.'
Ipenza and others say the rollback reflects a pattern of regulatory concessions to mostly informal gold miners.
'There's an alliance between the current government and informal mining sectors,' he said. 'The legal framework continues to be relaxed to benefit them.'
Peru's ministry of culture, which decided on May 30 to reduce the Nazca reserve from about 5,600 square kilometers to roughly 3,200 square kilometers, declined to answer specific questions from the AP. Instead, it sent a press release saying the adjustment was based on updated archaeological studies and does not affect the UNESCO World Heritage designation or its buffer zone.
The ministry said it remains committed to preserving the site's cultural heritage through regulated management.
A day after the May 30 decision, Peru's Minister of Culture Fabricio Valencia acknowledged that illegal mining exists within the reserve.
'Unfortunately, informal mining is an activity present in this area, but the measure we have taken does not mean it will be encouraged, nor that the likelihood of any harm from informal mining will increase. That will not happen,' Valencia said on RPP, one of Peru's largest radio programs.
When asked for more details about the presence of illegal activity in the reserve, Valencia said, 'there are some mining deposits, but I don't have exact information on what type of mineral is there.'
Castro, the former vice minister, warned the move could violate Peru's own laws.
'It contravenes Article 5(h) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, which mandates the protection of archaeological and historical heritage,' he said.
Ipenza said the government is enabling illegality under the guise of technical adjustments.
'It is shameful to forget our ancestors and our heritage, and to disguise decisions that pave the way for sectors seeking to impose illegality, such as illegal and informal mining,' he said. 'This decision benefits those groups and harms all Peruvians.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CNN
34 minutes ago
- CNN
Brazil's President Lula says Trump was ‘not elected to be emperor of the world,' as US-Brazil spat escalates
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has hit back at Donald Trump's tariff threats, saying that his American counterpart was elected as the leader of the United States and 'not to be the emperor of the world.' Last week, Trump threatened Brazil with crippling tariffs of 50% starting August 1, according to a letter posted to his social media platform, Truth Social. In the letter, Trump linked the astronomical tariff threat to what he described as a 'witch hunt' trial against Brazil's right-wing former president, Jair Bolsonaro. Bolsonaro, a close Trump ally, is facing trial in Brazil for allegedly attempting to overthrow Lula following his presidential win in 2022. He could face more than four decades behind bars if found guilty of masterminding the coup. Speaking exclusively to CNN's Christiane Amanpour on Thursday, da Silva, who is widely known as Lula, said that Trump's threats had broken away from 'protocol' and argued that his predecessor's fate cannot be part of trade negotiations. 'The judiciary branch of power in Brazil is independent. The president of the Republic has no influence whatsoever,' he said, adding that Bolsonaro 'is not being judged personally. He is being judged by the acts he tried to organize a coup d'etat.' Bolsonaro has denied wrongdoing. On Friday, Trump posted a letter to Bolsonaro on Truth Social, in which he suggested the former Brazilian leader was the victim of an 'unjust system' and saying that he would be 'watching closely.' Lula said Trump would be standing trial in Brazil if the actions he took during the January 6 insurrection had been committed in the South American country. 'If Trump was Brazilian and if he did what happened at Capitol Hill, he'd also be on trial in Brazil. And possibly he would have violated the Constitution. According to justice, he would also be arrested if he had done that here in Brazil,' he said. Speaking through an interpreter, Lula also expressed disappointment at Trump's approach, saying at first that he couldn't believe the US president's social media post was authentic. 'It was very unpleasant,' he told Amanpour. 'I thought it was fake news.' Brazil has now vowed reciprocal tariffs if Trump follows through with his threat, marking the first time in months another country has challenged Trump in the face of tariffs. 'Brazil is to take care of Brazil and take care of the Brazilian people, and not to take care of the interests of the others,' Lula said, adding: 'Brazil will not accept anything imposed on it. We accept negotiation and not imposition.' Unlike the more than 20 other countries that have received letters from Trump this month, the US ran a $6.8 billion trade surplus with Brazil last year. That means that the US exported more goods to Brazil than it imported from there – an imbalance that should already satisfy Trump's trade agenda. Top US exports to Brazil in 2024 included aircraft and spacecraft, fuels, industrial machinery like nuclear reactors, and electrical equipment, according to US Census Bureau data. A retaliatory 50% Brazilian tariff on American goods could severely harm these industries. Still, Lula underscored his willingness to come to an agreement with Washington on Thursday, saying that it is up to Trump to 'seriously' consider negotiation and that he hopes the US president will change his mind. 'I'm not a progressive president. I am the president of Brazil. I don't see President Trump as a far-right president. I see him as the president of the US – he was elected by the American people,' the former labor organizer told Amanpour, dismissing the possibility that their ideological backgrounds could embitter negotiations. 'The best thing in the world is for us to sit around a table and talk,' he added. 'If President Trump is willing to take seriously the negotiations underway between Brazil and the US, then I'll be open minded to negotiate whatever may be necessary. But what is important is that the relationship between the two countries cannot go on like this,' he said. Meanwhile on Tuesday, the US launched an investigation into what it called 'unfair' trading practices by Brazil, escalating the spat with the world's 10th largest economy. The investigation will focus on digital trade and electronic payment services, preferential tariffs, and anti-corruption interference, as well as intellectual property protection, to determine whether there are 'unreasonable or discriminatory and burden or restrict' American commerce, according to a statement by the United States Trade Representative (USTR). It will also look into ethanol market access and illegal deforestation. CNN's Elisabeth Buchwald, Lily Farrant and Ana Bickford contributed reporting.
Newsweek
an hour ago
- Newsweek
China Reacts to Trump's UNESCO Decision
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. China accused the U.S. of negating its responsibilities as a major global power in response to President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw from the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Trump is pulling the U.S. from UNESCO after his administration's review raised concerns about perceived pro-Palestinian and pro-Chinese bias, and an emphasis on "woke" diversity, equity, and inclusion policies that Washington opposes. "It's the third time the U.S. has withdrawn from UNESCO. The country hasn't paid arrears for a long time. This is not what a major country should do," Guo Jiakun, spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, said at a press briefing on Wednesday, July 23. He added: "China firmly supports UNESCO's work." Jiakun noted the 80th anniversary of the founding of the United Nations, and said China calls on all countries "to reaffirm their commitment to multilateralism and take concrete action to support the UN-centered international system". The Trump Administration has sought to withdraw the U.S. from multilateral organizations and agreements that it sees as running against American interests. He had withdrawn from UNESCO during his first term, only for his successor President Joe Biden to re-enter in an effort to counter growing Chinese influence over the agency and its priorities. This is a breaking news story. Updates to follow.
Time Magazine
10 hours ago
- Time Magazine
What Trump Quitting UNESCO Means For 26 U.S. World Heritage Sites
The Trump Administration announced on Tuesday that the United States will once again withdraw from UNESCO, the United Nations cultural agency that preserves World Heritage sites and promotes international cooperation in education, science, and culture. The decision to pull U.S. funding and participation from UNESCO—which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization—was expected, given that the Trump Administration has already cut ties with several other international bodies, including the World Health Organization and the U.N. Human Rights Council, and has withdrawn from global agreements such as the Paris climate accord. President Trump had also pulled out of UNESCO in his first term, arguing that U.S. involvement was not in the national interest and that the agency promoted anti-Israel speech. The Biden Administration rejoined the agency in 2023, citing concerns that the U.S. absence had allowed China and other strategic competitors to gain influence over global standards set by the agency. The U.S. withdrawal will take effect at the end of 2026, and is expected to deal a significant financial and symbolic blow to the Paris-based agency that relies on contributions from member states to support initiatives ranging from heritage site preservation and Holocaust education to setting standards for artificial intelligence and technology education. Here's what to know about UNESCO, the reasons for withdrawal, and what it means for the world heritage sites. Why is the U.S. leaving UNESCO? State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce said in a statement that the decision to withdraw from UNESCO was based on the agency's perceived support for 'divisive social and cultural causes,' claiming that its focus on the UN's Sustainable Development Goals is part of a 'globalist, ideological agenda for international development at odds with our America First foreign policy.' She added that UNESCO's decision in 2011 'to admit the 'State of Palestine' as a Member State is highly problematic, contrary to U.S. policy, and contributed to the proliferation of anti-Israel rhetoric within the organization.' The Trump Administration has previously criticized U.N. institutions for what it views as bias against Israel and a failure to align with U.S. values. The White House made a similar argument in 2018, when Trump first pulled the U.S. out of UNESCO. The U.S. has had a complicated relationship with UNESCO over the years. It was a founding member in 1945 but withdrew in 1984 under the Reagan Administration to protest alleged financial mismanagement and perceived anti-U.S. bias during the Cold War. The U.S. later rejoined in 2003 under the George W. Bush Administration, but stopped funding for the agency after it voted to include Palestine as a full member in 2011 under the Obama Administration. Five years after Trump withdrew from UNESCO in 2018, the Biden Administration rejoined the agency in 2023 and announced plans to pay over $600 million in back dues, arguing that the U.S. absence had allowed China to fill the gap left in UNESCO policymaking—especially in shaping global standards on technology, education, and artificial intelligence. What is UNESCO? UNESCO, which stands for the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, was founded after World War II to promote peace through international cooperation. Today, nearly 200 countries are members of UNESCO, along with 12 associate members. The agency is perhaps best known for preserving cultural heritage through its UNESCO World Heritage Sites program, which recognizes 1,248 historic landmarks in 170 countries for protection, including the Taj Mal, the pyramids of Giza, and the Notre Dame Cathedral. "World Heritage sites belong to all the peoples of the world, irrespective of the territory on which they are located,' UNESCO's website says. However, that declaration may be at odds with the Trump Administration's 'America First' approach. In July, Trump signed an executive order increasing fees for foreign tourists visiting U.S. national parks, many of which are UNESCO World Heritage Sites. "The national parks will be about America first,' Trump said at a recent rally. In addition to preserving cultural heritage, UNESCO says its mission is to 'set standards, produce tools and develop knowledge to create solutions to some of the greatest challenges of our time, and foster a world of greater equality and peace,' according to its website. 'Protecting biodiversity, responding to artificial intelligence, advancing quality education, safeguarding heritage, and ensuring access to reliable information are some examples of the work that UNESCO does with its 194 Member States across the globe.' UNESCO World Heritage sites in the U.S. There are 26 UNESCO World Heritage sites in the United States: Cultural sites: Natural sites: Mixed sites: What impact will the U.S. withdrawal have on UNESCO? The U.S. withdrawal is expected to have both financial and symbolic consequences. As one of UNESCO's largest contributors, the U.S. plays a critical role in funding its efforts. Without that support, the agency could be forced to scale back or restructure preservation initiatives. Past U.S. officials have also warned that stepping back could cede influence to strategic competitors, particularly in fast-developing areas like AI governance. Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said in a statement Tuesday that the agency 'deeply' regrets the U.S. decision to withdraw but added that the announcement was 'anticipated.' 'In recent years, we have undertaken major structural reforms and diversified our funding sources,' she said. 'Thanks to the efforts made by the Organization since 2018, the decreasing trend in the financial contribution of the US has been offset, so that it now represents 8% of the Organization's total budget compared to 40% for some United Nations entities; while at the same time, UNESCO's overall budget has steadily increased.' Azoulay also rejected accusations of an anti-Israel bias, claiming that the Trump Administration's claim contradicts 'the reality of UNESCO's efforts, particularly in the field of Holocaust education and the fight against antisemitism.' 'The reasons put forward by the United States to withdraw from the Organization are the same as seven years ago even though the situation has changed profoundly, political tensions have receded, and UNESCO today constitutes a rare forum for consensus on concrete and action-oriented multilateralism,' Azoulay said.
