WHAT ARE THE NATURAL RESOURCES OF PERU? - ENVIRONMENT - 2025

The natural resources of the Peru is one of the greatest assets that owns this South American country. In Peru there is a great economic dependence on these resources since 13.9% of the gross domestic product (GDP) is based on the exploitation of minerals. ^one

Peruvian law stipulates that the nation's natural resources are: water, both surface and underground; the soil, the subsoil and the lands for their use capacity, that is, agricultural, protected or forestry. ^two

By Addicted04, from Wikimedia CommonsIn addition, they consider biological diversity as a natural resource, which includes flora, fauna, microorganisms and ecosystems.

Hydrocarbons are also stipulated in the legal framework as natural resources, and all sources of energy that exist in the country such as wind or solar. They also include the atmosphere and the radio spectrum.

But where there is immense potential, among Peru's natural resources, is in its mineral reserves. The country has the world's largest silver reserve, in addition to having the largest gold, zinc and lead exploitation in the region. ³

In Peruvian law, the natural landscape is also considered a natural resource, as long as it produces economic benefits, and adds an indefinite space for any other element that can be considered as a natural resource.

Main natural resources of Peru

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Salty bodies

The maritime territory of the Republic of Peru is constituted by the Sea of ​​Grau, which covers 3,079.50 km bordering the continental coast and 200 nautical miles wide towards the Pacific Ocean. ⁴

By Maritime_Claims_of_Peru_and_Ecuador.svg: GeoEvanderivative work: Shadowxfox, via Wikimedia Commons

Sweet bodies

Thanks to the Amazon it is a region rich in hydrographic basins, of which there are 159 throughout Peru. ⁵ But it also has 2,679 glaciers and 8,355 lagoons of glacial origin. ⁶ It has 700 reservoirs or water reservoirs.

Peru has part of Titicaca, one of the highest navigable lakes in the world, which it shares with Bolivia, its neighbor. Of the total surface of Lake Peru it has 56%, that is, 4772 km ². ⁷

Diego Delso, via Wikimedia Commons

2 - Soil

The land surface of the Republic of Peru has an area of ​​12,79999 km ². This is divided into 3% of arable land, of which 0.5% is permanently in harvest. They also have 21% of their territory in use as permanent pasture. ⁸

One of the great riches of Peru is its nature, and 66% of its soil is occupied by forests and jungle. Meanwhile, 9.5% are engaged in other activities.

3 - Biological diversity

Peru has a rich biodiversity within its borders. Among fauna and flora they have more than 24,000 species inhabiting their territory. ⁹ It is one of the 17 countries that have 70% of the total biodiversity and is part of the United Nations Group of Like-Minded Megadiverse Countries.

The vicuña appears on the national shield, representing the country's diversity of fauna. And next to it a cinchona tree, which is held as a symbol of the plant wealth of the Peruvian nation.

Vegetation

The richness of the national vegetation is great, since it has approximately 20,375 species of flora, of which around 5,500 are endemic, that is, native to Peru. ¹⁰

One of the most appreciated flowers is the cantuta, which was the favorite of the Inca emperors.

By Saga70, from Wikimedia Commons Peruvian cotton is prized for its high quality. This has favored the development of the textile industry that currently generates more than 100 million dollars a month in income to the country from the export of its fabrics. ^eleven

Fauna

The water ecosystem has more than 1070 species. One of the most coveted is the stingray and Peru has 12 species of this animal, from which more than 21,000 are extracted per year. There is also the Arahuana, of which approximately 1 million 600 thousand were caught during 2010. ¹²

As for salt water, in the northern zone there is great biodiversity, and in the southern part of the coast there is efficient pelagic production. Only in the Peruvian sea approximately 10% of the world's fishing occurs.

Native animals have been very important for the establishment of ancient societies in Peru. But at present they do not lose prominence, because the economic benefit that they bring thanks to exports or tourism is still significant.

By Alexandre Buisse (Nattfodd), from Wikimedia CommonsSome of the most important animals in Peru are the llama, the vicuña, the guanaco, the alpaca, the guinea pigs or the Creole ducks. The country has approximately 523 species of mammals, and 446 of reptiles.

Only thanks to the variety of birds, around 1847 species, the specialized tourist development of "birdwatching" has been achieved, in which tourists seek to observe exotic specimens, Peru produces annual profits of approximately 50 million dollars. ¹³

4 - Energy resources

Oil and natural gas are important in the national development of Peru. Almost half of the electrical energy consumed in the country is generated from Peruvian natural gas. ¹⁴

In the Republic of Peru there are 18 sedimentary basins: Tumbes Progreso, Talara, Lancones, Sechua, Santiago, Bagua, Marañón, Huallaga, Trujillo, Salaveray, Ene, Ucayali, Lima, Pisco, Madrede Dios, Moque Gua and Titicaca. But the wells explored are only in 4 of them. ^fifteen

Peru produces more than 300 million dollars a month as a dividend from its hydrocarbon and natural gas transactions abroad. ¹⁶

5 - Minerals

Peru's mineral wealth is vast. This South American country has large reserves that constitute one of its largest capitals. In addition, this depends largely on your economy. More than 2000 million dollars a month result from the export of metallic minerals from Peru. ¹⁷

Its silver reserve is the largest on the planet, in Peru there is 17.5% of the world's unextracted silver. In Latin America, they have the first place in zinc, lead and molybdenum reserves. ¹⁸

By Ottocarotto, from Wikimedia Commons In terms of mining extraction it also leads in Latin America, ranking in the highest rung in the production of gold, zinc, lead, boron, Andalusite and kyanite and selenium. In addition, it has the second place in extraction of copper, silver, molybdenum, cadmium, phosphate rock and diatomite.

Its main buyers are China and the United States of North America, since they receive respectively 36% and 9% of Peruvian mineral exports, mainly copper, gold and zinc.

6 - Natural Landscapes

The natural beauties of the landscape are used and protected as long as they can generate an economic benefit to the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism of Peru promotes a series of preferential routes that are selected as emblems of the nation. In addition, in these places the tourist will have constant police surveillance and patrol, guaranteeing a safe journey. ¹⁹

By Martin St-Amant (S23678), from Wikimedia Commons Among the most famous places are:

-Manu National Park

-Macchu Picchu

-Ollantaytambo

-Sacred Valley of the Incas in Urubamba

-Cusco

- Titicaca lake

-The Valley of Túcume

-Pomac dry forest

-Mirador Cruz del Condor

-Lachay National Reserve

-Punt Sal

-National park huascaran

-Luya

-San José box

-Pimentel Beach

-Paracas National Reserve

-Candelabra of Paracas

-Oasis of Huacachina

-Valley of the Rio Grande in Palpa

-Nazca lines

-Colca Canyon

-Misti volcano in Arequipa

-Máncora

-The organs

-Vitor Valley

-Camana

-Matarani

-Beaches of Mollendo

-Puerto Pizarro

- Los Manglares de Tumbes National Sanctuary

-Tumbes beach

-Zorritos

-Lobitos

-Beaches of Paita

References

1. Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Republic of Peru (2018). Mining Yearbook 2017. Lima - Peru: Mining Production Department, p.47.
2. Organic Law for the sustainable use of natural resources. Law No. 26821. Lima - Peru. Art. 3.
3. Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Republic of Peru (2018). Mining Yearbook 2017. Lima - Peru: Mining Production Department, p.14.
4. En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Sea of ​​Grau. Available at: en.wikipedia.org.
5. Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Peru (2009). Hydrographic Map of Peru, Scale: 1: 5'250,000. NATIONAL WATER AUTHORITY (ANA).
6. National Water Authority (2014). Inventory of Glaciers and Lagoons Glaciology and Water Resources Unit. Peru, p. twenty-one.
7. Tudela-Mamani, J. (2017). Willingness to pay for improvements in wastewater treatment: application of the contingent valuation method in Puno, Peru. Chapingo Magazine Forestry and Environmental Sciences Series, 23 (3), pp. 341-352.
8. En.wikipedia.org. (2018). Geography of Peru. Available at: en.wikipedia.org.
9. Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Peru (2014). THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY TO 2021 AND ITS PLAN OF ACTION 2014-2018. Lima - Peru: Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Peru, p.14.
10. Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Peru (2014). THE NATIONAL STRATEGY FOR BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY TO 2021 AND ITS PLAN OF ACTION 2014-2018. Lima - Peru: Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Peru, p.14.
11. National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of the Republic of Peru (2018). Evolution of Exports and Imports, August 2018. INEI.
12. Vice Ministry of Strategic Development of Natural Resources (2014). FIFTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Peru.
13. Vice Ministry of Strategic Development of Natural Resources (2014). FIFTH NATIONAL REPORT TO THE CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY. Ministry of the Environment of the Republic of Peru.
14. National Society of Mining, Oil and Energy (2018). Peru: Hydrocarbons Sector - SNMPE. Snmpe.org.pe. Available at: snmpe.org.pe.
15. Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Republic of Peru (2007). Sedimentary basins, Scale: 1: 9,000,000. General Directorate of Hydrocarbons.
16. National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of the Republic of Peru (2018). Evolution of Exports and Imports, August 2018. INEI.
17. National Institute of Statistics and Informatics of the Republic of Peru (2018). Evolution of Exports and Imports, August 2018. INEI.
18. Ministry of Energy and Mines of the Republic of Peru (2018). Mining Yearbook 2017. Lima - Peru: Mining Production Department.
19. Government of the Republic of Peru. (2018). Tourist Routes. Available at: gob.pe.