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El desarrollo sostenible es una propuesta que busca el equilibrio de la justicia social y la protección ambiental con el crecimiento económico, haciendo el presente accesible a las generaciones futuras. A diferencia de las fórmulas tradicionales de desarrollo que solo consideran el crecimiento económico, la sostenibilidad sostiene que el progreso de una sociedad debe estar, necesariamente, alineado a la justicia social, respetar los recursos naturales y ser compatible con una planificación a largo plazo.

Considera la promoción de las energías limpias, la eliminación de la pobreza, la educación inclusiva, la equidad de género, y el acceso al agua potable. Fue por primera vez definido por el Informe Brundtland (1987), y constituye la base de los 17 Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (ODS) presentados en la Agenda 2030 por las Naciones Unidas, un compromiso por parte de todos los países (el Perú también) de las medidas que deben adoptarse para transformar el mundo para convertirlo en un lugar más justo, equitativo y menos nocivo para el medioambiente.

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“Comunidades amazónicas peruanas acusan al Estado de no frenar la contaminación por mercurio derivada de la minería ilegal.”

Las comunidades indígenas y rurales del río Nanay, en la Amazonía peruana, presentaron una denuncia formal ante el estado, denuncia por contaminación de agua y alimentos con mercurio proveniente de la minería ilegal, estimando que más del 80 % de sus habitantes, especialmente los niños, presentan niveles elevados de mercurio en su organismo. Si bien el consumo de alimentos y/o agua contaminados con mercurio afecta la salud humana y el equilibrio de los ecosistemas, trajo consigo también inestabilidad social, debido a la presencia de grupos armados y el trabajo ilegal en la zona minera; a pesar de requerimientos y llamados de atención, las autoridades regionales no han podido frenarla, demostrando fallas en la gobernanza ambiental y la protección de derechos. Este caso es una clara muestra de que el desarrollo sostenible (considerando medio ambiente, salud pública y justicia social) sigue siendo una tarea pendiente en lugares marginales del país.

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BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Indigenous and rural communities along the Nanay River in Peru's northern Amazon filed a complaint on Friday accusing the government of failing to stop illegal gold mining that is contaminating their water and food with toxic mercury.

The complaint was submitted in the country's capital, Lima, to the Secretariat General of the Andean Community, a regional trade bloc that includes Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. The communities argue that Peru has violated a binding regional policy adopted in 2012 to combat illegal mining.

A delegation of 10 leaders and residents from the Peruvian Amazon traveled to Lima for the complaint.

"Peru is not fulfilling its obligations, and that has allowed illegal mining to expand, threatening the lives and rights of Amazonian communities," said César Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who brought the case forward on behalf of the communities.

The Peruvian government did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Mercury levels are too high

Mercury, widely used in gold extraction, is polluting fish - a dietary staple - and entering the food chain in areas surrounding the Nanay and Pintuyacu rivers.

"More than 80% of our population is contaminated with mercury in the blood," said Jhonny Huaymacari Yuyarima, who represents the Ikito Indigenous people and heads a local alliance of 33 communities in the Nanay basin. "The fish in our rivers and lakes are also poisoned."

Huaymacari described seeing children with developmental delays, residents with chronic joint pain, skin conditions and intense headaches - symptoms many now associate with prolonged mercury exposure.

A recent study by the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation, or CINCIA, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society found dangerously high levels of mercury in hair samples taken from 273 residents across six river communities in the region.

About 79% of participants had mercury levels above the World Health Organization safety limit of 2.2 milligrams per kilogram.

Children up to age 4 had the highest average levels - nearly six times the recommended limit. Fish from the same area had elevated mercury concentrations, particularly in carnivorous species that are commonly eaten.

'Widespread exposure'

"These are not isolated cases. This is widespread exposure," Ipenza said. "And we're talking about people who depend on fish as their primary protein source, and on the Nanay River for drinking water - including the city of Iquitos."

Huaymacari says it hurts to think that after more than 20 years of fighting illegal mining, "the state still doesn't listen to us."

"The mercury is in our bodies now. We'll have to live with this if the Peruvian state does nothing," he told The Associated Press, citing the example of Peru's southern region of Madre de Dios, long plagued by illegal mining.

Researchers and environmental groups now warn that the sprawling expanse of Loreto - where Iquitos is the regional capital and the home of the Nanay - is becoming the new frontier.

A 2023 report by the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project showed growing deforestation and mining activity creeping into Nanay headwaters, even in protected areas.

The CINCIA study, one of the first to systematically assess mercury exposure in Loreto communities, found that while most fish samples did not exceed international safety limits, the amount and frequency of fish consumption meant even moderate levels of contamination are a serious risk.

Loreto has the highest per capita fish consumption in Peru, with some families along the river eating fish two to three times daily.

Beyond the toxic exposure, communities are also reporting serious social and security impacts, including the arrival of armed groups, illegal labor, and sexual exploitation at mining camps. Local leaders say environmental defenders have been threatened and communal governance structures weakened.

"Almost 80% of the people there are foreigners, and more than 60 (gold mining) dredges are operating in the area," said Huaymacari of the Ikito.

In one of their communities, a Colombian flag was raised, he said. "It no longer feels like Peru."

A call to action

Local police and navy posts lack the staff, equipment, and logistical support to confront the spread of illegal mining, Huaymacari said.

"They're trying, but they don't have the tools to fight this plague of illegal mining," he said.

The Andean Policy to Fight Illegal Mining obliges member states to coordinate regionally and curb organized criminal activities linked to illegal extraction. The complaint asks the regional body to formally declare Peru in violation and issue corrective recommendations.

While the Andean Community cannot impose sanctions, its rulings are binding under regional law, and a formal declaration could pressure Peru to adopt corrective measures or face reputational and diplomatic consequences.

Ipenza said it isn't just about Peru and that wider "action needs to be taken."

"Mercury pollution and illegal gold cross borders - and the damage is not just environmental. It's deeply human," he said.

The communities behind the complaint say they are not seeking financial compensation, but urgent recognition of their rights, protection of their territories, and accountability from a state that, they say, has abandoned them.

The Andean Community has yet to comment on the case, which could set a regional precedent for holding governments accountable for cross-border environmental harms.

"We, the 33 communities of this basin, are prepared to raise our voices together and say: enough is enough!" said Huaymacari. "We call on the government to act urgently."

___

The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .

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Peru's Amazon communities accuse the state of failing to stop mercury pollution from illegal mining

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Indigenous and rural communities from Peru's northern Amazon have filed a formal complaint against the government for failing to curb illegal gold mining in the Nanay River basin.

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Ejemplos desarrollo sostenible en el Perú

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Ejemplos desarrollo sostenible en el Perú

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Planta Piloto de Monitoreo en Madre de Dios

Estudios realizados por USAID y CINCIA indican que en la región de Madre de Dios se instalaron estaciones de monitoreo para detectar metales pesados como el mercurio en el agua y la flora y fauna local.

Resguardo indígena y certificación territorial (Kukama y Yagua)

Áreas comunales han conseguido titulación y certificación de sus territorios, incluyendo Kukama y Yagua, permitiéndoles registrar e informar de actividades y extractivas que estén sucediendo illegalmente.

Campañas de salud y nutrición en la Amazonía

Los estudios de USAID y del CINCIA sustentan que hubo campañas médicas móviles en comunidades expuestas a minería ilegal y evaluaciones de mercurio en sangre, especialmente de niños y mujeres afectadas.

Educación ambiental en escuelas ribereñas de Loreto

Los informes sobre el efecto de la minería ilegal en Loreto (río Nanay) registran que se crearon espacios educativos en las escuelas ribereñas, con participación de ONG y de instituciones como USAID, para educar a los estudiantes sobre el tema de la contaminación y el uso responsable del agua.

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Ejemplos desarrollo sostenible en el Perú

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En el Perú, el desarrollo sostenible no es una aspiración lejana que forme parte de un plan o de un tratado internacional, sino que se ha convertido en una necesidad urgente y cotidiana que perjudica la vida de millones de peruanos, a partir de aquellos que se encuentran en las zonas más vulnerables del país. El país es, sin lugar a dudas, un país diverso y rico en recursos naturales; de la misma manera, está constantemente amenazado por la minería informal que envenena a los ríos y a la gente; por el cambio climático que provoca deslizamientos de tierra de todo tipo, causados por la falta de planificación urbana; por las nuevas especies invasoras como el pescado de agua dulce y por el cambio climático que origina la falta de desarrollo social. Pero también somos un país de resistencia, en el que las comunidades indígenas vienen protegiendo sus bosques, los jóvenes llevan a cabo iniciativas de soluciones verdes y lo que muchas personas aportan desde el ámbito más cotidiano con pequeñas acciones. Para que el desarrollo sostenible en el Perú se convierta en realidad y no solamente en un discurso, es necesario voluntad política, justicia ambiental, educación transformadora y la participación ciudadana activa. El desarrollo sostenible no es un dilema entre el progreso económico o la protección ambiental, sino que debemos entender que no habrá futuro posible sin la armonía entre ambos. Cualquier decisión, desde la manera en que producimos, consumimos y educamos hasta la manera en que tratamos a nuestro entorno y a los demás, puede contribuir al país que necesitamos. El Perú tiene todo el potencial para ser un ejemplo en sostenibilidad, pero solo lo lograremos si dejamos de mirar el desarrollo como algo exclusivo de las ciudades y lo entendemos como un derecho de todos los pueblos, en todos los rincones del país.

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Informe Brundtland (1987) – “Nuestro futuro común”
Documento de la Comisión Mundial sobre el Medio Ambiente y el Desarrollo Versión en español - ONU

Naciones Unidas – Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible (Agenda 2030)
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/es/

PNUD Perú – Programa de las Naciones Unidas para el Desarrollo
https://www.undp.org/es/peru

MINAM – Ministerio del Ambiente del Perú
https://www.gob.pe/minam

CEPLAN – Plan Estratégico de Desarrollo Nacional (PEDN) al 2050
https://www.ceplan.gob.pe/plan-estrategico-de-desarrollo-nacional/

Noticia: https://apnews.com/article/peru-mercury-illegal-mining-indigenous-48af39f0f972b17541bb766bb3801b8f

https://globalhealthnow.org/2025-04/perus-illegal-mining-surges-and-destroys

https://sabincenter.wfu.edu/cincia/

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/09/record-number-of-indigenous-land-titles-granted-in-peru-via-innovative-process-commentary/

https://www.earthlawcenter.org/elc-in-the-news/2024/10/landmark-victory-civil-court-of-loreto-upholds-ruling-recognizing-rights-of-the-maran-river-and-its-tributaries-in-appellate-decision

https://www.context.news/nature/mercury-poisoning-in-perus-amazon-threatens-health-disaster

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BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) - Indigenous and rural communities along the Nanay River in Peru's northern Amazon filed a complaint on Friday accusing the government of failing to stop illegal gold mining that is contaminating their water and food with toxic mercury.

The complaint was submitted in the country's capital, Lima, to the Secretariat General of the Andean Community, a regional trade bloc that includes Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Bolivia. The communities argue that Peru has violated a binding regional policy adopted in 2012 to combat illegal mining.

A delegation of 10 leaders and residents from the Peruvian Amazon traveled to Lima for the complaint.

"Peru is not fulfilling its obligations, and that has allowed illegal mining to expand, threatening the lives and rights of Amazonian communities," said César Ipenza, an environmental lawyer who brought the case forward on behalf of the communities.

The Peruvian government did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

Mercury levels are too high

Mercury, widely used in gold extraction, is polluting fish - a dietary staple - and entering the food chain in areas surrounding the Nanay and Pintuyacu rivers.

"More than 80% of our population is contaminated with mercury in the blood," said Jhonny Huaymacari Yuyarima, who represents the Ikito Indigenous people and heads a local alliance of 33 communities in the Nanay basin. "The fish in our rivers and lakes are also poisoned."

Huaymacari described seeing children with developmental delays, residents with chronic joint pain, skin conditions and intense headaches - symptoms many now associate with prolonged mercury exposure.

A recent study by the Center for Amazonian Scientific Innovation, or CINCIA, and the Frankfurt Zoological Society found dangerously high levels of mercury in hair samples taken from 273 residents across six river communities in the region.

About 79% of participants had mercury levels above the World Health Organization safety limit of 2.2 milligrams per kilogram.

Children up to age 4 had the highest average levels - nearly six times the recommended limit. Fish from the same area had elevated mercury concentrations, particularly in carnivorous species that are commonly eaten.

'Widespread exposure'

"These are not isolated cases. This is widespread exposure," Ipenza said. "And we're talking about people who depend on fish as their primary protein source, and on the Nanay River for drinking water - including the city of Iquitos."

Huaymacari says it hurts to think that after more than 20 years of fighting illegal mining, "the state still doesn't listen to us."

"The mercury is in our bodies now. We'll have to live with this if the Peruvian state does nothing," he told The Associated Press, citing the example of Peru's southern region of Madre de Dios, long plagued by illegal mining.

Researchers and environmental groups now warn that the sprawling expanse of Loreto - where Iquitos is the regional capital and the home of the Nanay - is becoming the new frontier.

A 2023 report by the Monitoring of the Andean Amazon Project showed growing deforestation and mining activity creeping into Nanay headwaters, even in protected areas.

The CINCIA study, one of the first to systematically assess mercury exposure in Loreto communities, found that while most fish samples did not exceed international safety limits, the amount and frequency of fish consumption meant even moderate levels of contamination are a serious risk.

Loreto has the highest per capita fish consumption in Peru, with some families along the river eating fish two to three times daily.

Beyond the toxic exposure, communities are also reporting serious social and security impacts, including the arrival of armed groups, illegal labor, and sexual exploitation at mining camps. Local leaders say environmental defenders have been threatened and communal governance structures weakened.

"Almost 80% of the people there are foreigners, and more than 60 (gold mining) dredges are operating in the area," said Huaymacari of the Ikito.

In one of their communities, a Colombian flag was raised, he said. "It no longer feels like Peru."

A call to action

Local police and navy posts lack the staff, equipment, and logistical support to confront the spread of illegal mining, Huaymacari said.

"They're trying, but they don't have the tools to fight this plague of illegal mining," he said.

The Andean Policy to Fight Illegal Mining obliges member states to coordinate regionally and curb organized criminal activities linked to illegal extraction. The complaint asks the regional body to formally declare Peru in violation and issue corrective recommendations.

While the Andean Community cannot impose sanctions, its rulings are binding under regional law, and a formal declaration could pressure Peru to adopt corrective measures or face reputational and diplomatic consequences.

Ipenza said it isn't just about Peru and that wider "action needs to be taken."

"Mercury pollution and illegal gold cross borders - and the damage is not just environmental. It's deeply human," he said.

The communities behind the complaint say they are not seeking financial compensation, but urgent recognition of their rights, protection of their territories, and accountability from a state that, they say, has abandoned them.

The Andean Community has yet to comment on the case, which could set a regional precedent for holding governments accountable for cross-border environmental harms.

"We, the 33 communities of this basin, are prepared to raise our voices together and say: enough is enough!" said Huaymacari. "We call on the government to act urgently."

___

The Associated Press' climate and environmental coverage receives financial support from multiple private foundations. AP is solely responsible for all content. Find AP's for working with philanthropies, a list of supporters and funded coverage areas at .

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Peru's Amazon communities accuse the state of failing to stop mercury pollution from illegal mining

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Indigenous and rural communities from Peru's northern Amazon have filed a formal complaint against the government for failing to curb illegal gold mining in the Nanay River basin.