More than one third of forest concessions in Peru are under investigation for violations of regulations, reports the International Tropical Timber Organization in its bimonthly update.
Omar Guerrero, the deputy director of the Organismo de Supervisión de los Recursos Forestales y de Fauna Silvestre (OSINFOR), which oversees forest concessions, said between 80 and 100 of Peru’s 240 timber, reforestation and ecotourism concessions are under investigation for various violations.
Logging has increased in Peru with the paving of the Interoceanic Highway, which connects the heart of the Amazon to Pacific Coast ports.
Peru produced more than 1.1 million cubic meters of sawnwood in 2008.