The Kakataibo people have stewarded the rich tapestry of biodiversity of the Peruvian Amazon for generations. Known for their warrior traditions, they continue to defend their ancestral homelands in the Huánuco and Ucayali regions, including the newly recognized Kakataibo Norte and Sur Indigenous Reserves, home to a group of the Kakataibo people living in voluntary isolation since the region’s violent rubber boom.
Yet, the Kakataibo are struggling for their survival as a people. A complex web of rampant illegal logging, coca plantations, and mineral concessions have placed their territory under siege, making this region one of the most dangerous areas for environmental defenders in the entirety of Peru. A new, groundbreaking multimedia report reveals that this destruction is not merely a result of criminal activity in the region – the Peruvian government continues to play a significant role.
Produced by two leading investigative journalists in partnership with Amazon Watch’s Amazon Crime campaign, the report harnesses georeferenced data, public records, and witness testimony to map the catastrophic environmental destruction and violence against the Kakataibo people inflicted by land invaders and organized crime in the region. Likewise, it traces the intricate relationship between the government and criminal networks, revealing that local officials often overlook or even actively participate in the illegal sale of Indigenous territories.
Stand in Solidarity with Indigenous Earth Defenders!
Their courage in the face of adversity inspires us to redouble our efforts to protect Indigenous lives and preserve the Amazon rainforest and our global climate.
As the full investigation reveals, there is a disturbing history of land transfers by the administrations of the former Huánuco regional governors Luis Picón Quedo and Rubén Alva Ochoa. They illegally granted Kakataibo lands to timber companies, ranchers, and even the owner of a large steel company. These actions have paved the way for further land grabs and the unchecked spread of illegal activities in the region, resulting in existential threats to the well-being and livelihoods of Kakataibo communities.
Since the onset of the global COVID-19 pandemic, illegal actors have escalated their attacks against land defenders. While federal mechanisms for the protection of defenders have intervened on some occasions, existing protection measures are inadequate, unreliable, and discontinuous.
This passivity at every level of government coupled with the direct complicity of regional actors has forced Kakataibo leaders to utilize increasingly dangerous self-defense mechanisms, risking their lives to defend the forest, their communities, and isolated villages. Five Kakataibo leaders have tragically lost their lives due to the violence, as others are increasingly facing threats and displacement from their communities.
This influx of illegal coca cultivation and narco-trafficking is also converging with other forms of extractivism in the region, intensifying a climate of fear and uncertainty as Kakataibo communities navigate their simultaneous struggle against legal concessions for mining, oil, and forestry in their territories. This reality underscores that criminal and formal extractive economies are working in tandem to facilitate the ongoing dispossession and destruction of Indigenous ancestral territories.
Amazon Watch’s Commitment
Amazon Watch remains steadfast in our commitment to supporting threatened Indigenous organizations in the Amazon. Through our Amazon Crime campaign, we will continue to:
- Advocate for Indigenous Land Rights: Our strategies focus on securing the legal recognition and security of Indigenous territories.
- Promote Indigenous economies: We champion the development of alternative projects that are culturally appropriate and environmentally sound, empowering communities to build self-determination.
- Strengthen Community-Based Protection: We support community-led initiatives to protect their lands, cultures, and rights. The Peruvian government must center and respect these initiatives as it assumes its responsibility to protect the rights and safety of Indigenous communities.
- Expose Criminal Networks: We will continue to expose the corrupt practices that enable the advance of criminal economies in the Amazon.
The struggle for the Kakataibo is a struggle for all who value the Amazon rainforest and the rights of its Indigenous stewards. This landmark report is a call to action – to demand accountability from those complicit in these crimes and to deepen our efforts to protect this crucial ecosystem and its people.
