Threats from Oil and Gas Projects in the Western Amazon - Recent Advances and Issues in Environmental Science - page 149

Figure 2. Oil and gas blocks in the western Amazon. Solid yellow indicates blocks already leased
out to companies. Hashed yellow indicates proposed blocks or blocks still in the negotiation phase.
Protected areas shown are those considered strictly protected by the IUCN (categories I to III).
In 2003, Peru reduced royalties to promote investment, sparking a new exploration
boom. There are now 48 active blocks under contract with multinational companies in
the Peruvian Amazon (Figure 4). The government has leased all but eight in just the
past 4 years. At least 16 more blocks are likely to be signed in 2008. These 64 blocks
cover ~72% of the Peruvian Amazon (~490,000 km 2 ). The only areas fully protected
from oil and gas activities are national parks and national and historic sanctuaries,
which cover ~12% of the total Peruvian Amazon. However, 20 blocks overlap 11 less
strictly protected areas, such as Communal Reserves and Reserved Zones. At least 58
of the 64 blocks overlay lands titled to indigenous peoples. Further, 17 blocks overlap
areas that have proposed or created reserves for indigenous groups in voluntary
isolation.