OjoPúblico acquired a random sample of different brands sold in Lima’s main supermarkets and online stores and requested an anatomical analysis from Universidad Nacional Agraria La Molina laboratory. The research found the presence of vulnerable tree species such as shihuahuaco. Since 2015, the responsible authority has carried out only 10 inspections of more than 280 companies and persons authorized to market charcoal. In recent years, the most produced charcoal in Peru comes from the shihuahuaco of Madre de Dios and Ucayali, a species threatened by overexploitation. In 2021, this tree represented 57.7% of all species declared for producing charcoal, despite warnings from the scientific community of its possible disappearance.

Aramís Castro @aramis19 aramis@ojo-publico.com

3 Julio, 2022