In a controversial move by the government of Peru, the size of the archaeological park that shelters the iconic Nazca Lines has been significantly reduced by about 42%, equivalent to an expanse as large as approximately 1,400 soccer fields. This decision has stirred concern among conservationists, archaeologists, and environmental advocates who fear long-term damage to both cultural and ecological protections.
Critics argue that this contraction of the archaeological park might open doors for informal mining activities, weakening cultural and ecological safeguards that have been in place for decades. Opponents of the measure, including Peru’s former vice minister of the environment, Mariano Castro, warn of the critical risks and damage this decision might pose, especially as it excludes areas currently involved in or with pending mining claims.
According to Castro, the already limited safeguards for preserving archaeological heritage during the formalization of mining activities face further diminishment. “The ministry of culture’s oversight on the cumulative impact of extensive mining operations in sensitive archaeological regions is lacking,” emphasized Castro.
The park area forms part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site, famous for the Nazca Lines, ancient geoglyphs etched into the desert landscape thousands of years ago. UNESCO warned it had not been informed by Peru about alterations to the site’s boundaries and plans to request more details from the authorities to ensure the protection of this vital heritage.
César Ipenza, a Peruvian environmental lawyer familiar with the development, stated that a resolution has already passed, reducing the protected Nazca region by over 1,000 hectares. He views this as a significant weakening of essential protections. “The state should be adhering to international agreements rather than succumbing to private interest pressures,” Ipenza remarked.
This decision, according to Ipenza and others, indicates a broader trend of policy concessions favoring informal gold miners. Ipenza noted, “There is a visible alliance between the sitting government and informal mining sectors, and the legal frameworks continue to flex to their advantage.”
The ministry of culture, responsible for the resizing decision made on May 30, reducing the Nazca reserve from about 5,600 square kilometers to approximately 3,200 square kilometers, did not offer direct responses to specific inquiries, but instead issued a press statement claiming that the adjustment was based on updated archaeological findings and does not impact the UNESCO World Heritage status or its buffer zone.
Following this decision, Peru’s Minister of Culture Fabricio Valencia acknowledged illegal mining activities within the reserve. He clarified that the reduction is not an endorsement of these activities and insisted that there won’t be an escalation of informal mining threats. “Informal mining remains an issue in the area, yet this decision is not poised to intensify such activities,” Valencia said in a radio broadcast.
When pressed for more details on the illegal operations within the reserve, Valencia admitted, “There are mining sites, but specifics on the minerals involved are unavailable.”
Former vice minister Castro expressed concerns that diminishing the park might breach Peru’s own legal statutes. He pointed to Article 5(h) of the Environmental Impact Assessment Law, which mandates sections of national heritage to be shielded from harm.
The government, as per Ipenza, is inadvertently undermining its legal obligations under the guise of undergoing technical modifications. “It is disgraceful to forsake our cultural legacy by masking decisions that cater to groups synonymous with unlawful activities, such as illegal and informal mining,” he stated, emphasizing that this choice serves those entities but is detrimental to the entire nation of Peru.