MAAP #166 Mennonites have Deforested 4,800 hectares (11,900 acres) in the Peruvian Amazon

October 28, 2022

Since 2017, the Mennonites have arrived in the Peruvian Amazon and created 5 new colonies.

Here, in MAAP #166, we show that these colonies have caused the deforestation of more than 4,800 hectares of tropical forests, including 650 hectares in 2022.

First, we present an updated Base Map that shows the current situation of Mennonites in Peru.

Base Map. Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon

Next, we detail the deforestation history in each colony since 2017, with an emphasis on the most recent loss in 2022.

We emphasize that the most urgent current situation is developing in the Padre Marquez colony, located on both sides of the border between the regions of Ucayali and Loreto. It is the newest colony, with the deforestation of 976 hectares since its creation in 2021 (including a large expansion of 491 hectares in the current year 2022).

We also highlight the massive deforestation of 2,884 hectares in the three colonies (Vanderland, Osterreich and Belize) near the town of Tierra Blanca in the Loreto region. These colonies are also expanding in 2022.

The Masisea colony, located south of the city of Pucallpa (Ucayali region), has caused the deforestation of 960 hectares.

In total, we documented the deforestation of 4,819 hectares in the five new Mennonite colonies in the Peruvian Amazon since 2017, including active expansion at the present time in 2022

In the more detailed report we track the deforestation history in each colony since 2017, with an emphasis on the most recent loss in 2022.

Follow the link below to read the full report.