As a child, Víctor Zambrano ran barefoot through the Peruvian Amazon near the Madre de Dios River, inspired by the indigenous Ese Eja children he admired for their harmony with nature. After studying in Lima and joining the Navy, he returned to his homeland in 1996, only to find it devastated. The once lush forest had vanished, replaced by grass for cattle. Determined to restore the area, Zambrano implemented an agroforestry system based on native practices and the apparent disorder of the natural forest.
Today, Zambrano has planted between 38,000 and 40,000 trees in his ecological refuge, "K'erenda Homet" the region's first Private Conservation Area. As an environmental advocate and the President of the Tambopata National Reserve Management Committee, he faces constant threats for defending the Amazon against those who seek to exploit it.
What are the main current threats to biodiversity in this region?
The main threats are illegal mining, land-use change for cattle ranching, and coca cultivation, as well as corruption and the complicity of authorities with illegal miners. In other words, the problem is those polluters who simply want to get rich overnight and use the law to their advantage to invade and destroy the forest for their own benefit.
The concept of human development has been replaced by purely materialistic and selfish concerns where there is always competition over who has more and who hoards more. And if this trend continues, the future of these scenic beauties, this lung of the world, will simply be an illusion, a memory, nothing more. People think that material resources will accompany them all their lives and do not understand that there comes a point when these remain here, and we leave. But what do we leave behind? Destruction, calamities, pollution, etc.
How would you say this wave of forest destruction began?
The difficulties began with the construction of the Interoceanic Highway, which I myself helped to push for and which was our dream because we were isolated and could not get our products and development to other regions. But we never imagined the negative impact it would have once it was built, as it facilitated the arrival of people with intentions to exploit these resources uncontrollably, and the established laws were never enforced, such as forestry, agricultural, and mining laws. Moreover, the authorities responsible for enforcing these laws prioritize material resources over morality, leading to a situation of constant threat and lack of control, as the established laws are not respected, and the law itself is just a decoration. At this moment, unfortunately, everything is out of control.
The authorities refuse to do what they should because they are miners or because they support those mafias. So, who can we trust?
How does corruption and the complicity of authorities exacerbate these problems?
Corruption is an impenetrable fog that affects all levels of authority. The authorities are complicit because when municipal election campaigns begin, for example, they are all miners, and so the authorities are miners and favor these illegals. Thus, everyone claims a piece of land, and although they have no established rights, they come from other places to invade lands and overnight become landowners. This not only violates the law but also threatens the lives of people who defend their concessions. Today, we see the situation becoming increasingly difficult, as Madre de Dios has been completely taken over by illegal elements, mafias, and a series of hired killers. So, the laws are not enforced, and we are adrift without guarantees for our land. There is a piece of paper that says guarantee, but what good is the paper if you have no one beside you?
Have you received threats because of your work?
Yes, all environmental defenders have faced threats and violence. In 2020, the son of the vice president of our management committee was murdered, and the investigation showed the complicity between criminals and former State police officers. Additionally, the investigation revealed the involvement of authorities, and justice has not yet been served. We are all threatened, marked, and they know where we walk and go, but how can we face them under unequal conditions? Criminals have vast amounts of money stolen from the State, and the State does not defend our rights, but theirs.
Personally, I have heard that among the illegals, they have already put a price on my head, but our enemies know that if something happens to me, it will not end there, as this will have repercussions due to my public position, which has protected me to some extent. Thus, despite the threats, we continue our fight for biodiversity with determination, without hiding, and with a clear mind because what we do benefits the environment and our people who cannot speak out. In other words, we are the voice of the voiceless.
If everyone thought about how to use resources sustainably instead of exhausting them, we would be on a better path toward effective conservation.
How do you and other environmental defenders handle the constant threats?
To protect ourselves, we keep the identities and locations of most of the environmental coordinators we work with in the Tambopata National Reserve Management Committee confidential. There are two of us, the president and the vice president, who appear publicly, while we keep the others confidential to protect their identities and images. This has been crucial to avoid direct reprisals against our colleagues.
Even so, I want to say that I hope this information does not spread here in my country, but rather goes abroad because, as I said, the threats are constant here.
What measures do you consider necessary to address these problems?
It is crucial that existing laws are enforced and that corruption is eliminated at all levels. We need a change in mindset to value biodiversity and sustainable development instead of seeking quick profits at the expense of the environment. Without a real commitment from the State and society, the situation will continue to deteriorate.
Those who are part of mafias, those who are illegal, have more rights than those who have complied with the law in every sense of the word.
How can sustainable development contribute to conservation?
The concept of conservation should not be misunderstood. People often do not analyze the terms. Conservation means using resources responsibly. It is not about conserving for the sake of conserving. You have your biodiversity; you can live from it and engage in related activities without depleting resources: Use what you reasonably can, but leave resources for the future—that is sustainable development. It is important not only to talk about conservation in abstract terms but to promote a balance between use and preservation. If everyone thought about how to use resources sustainably instead of exhausting them, we would be on a better path toward effective conservation.
Another issue is that the authorities do not allow such activities, as happens here with several of our ventures like the agro-tourism corridor. The authorities refuse to do what they should because they are miners or because they support those mafias. So, who can we trust? We have been completely abandoned by the State. And those who are part of mafias, those who are illegal, have more rights than those who have complied with the law in every sense of the word. That is our harsh reality.
Has there been any effective government intervention in your conservation efforts?
Unfortunately, no. The State has failed to defend our rights, and those who comply with the law are abandoned. However, we continue our fight because we believe in the value of biodiversity, because it is our right and a necessity for future generations. We live in harmony with nature and we aim to demonstrate that it is possible to reverse deforestation and live sustainably.
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