Experiences from PEM passed on to oil sector in the Peruvian Amazonas

By Environmental Governance Programme (EGP)

July 8^th, 2024

The lessons learned from EGP’s work on Participatory Environmental Monitoring (PEM) are not limited to the mining sector. In Peru, a new project targeted communities affected by oil extraction in the Amazonas.

PUMAS (Programa Formativo de Vigilantes y Monitores Ambientales) is an educational program for environmental surveyors and monitors in Peru. The program aims to strengthen capacities for dialogue and management of social conflicts, as well as technical skills in environmental monitoring for the governance of natural resources and peacebuilding.

PUMAS has previously been focused on territories affected by mining. UNDP Peru has, with the support of EGP, trained more than 40 monitors from three different regions with mining activities. Together with the Ministry of Energy and Mines (MINEM), UNDP Peru has now continued to territories with oil extraction.

In total, 95 monitors of four indigenous groups were trained in both social and environmental aspects of oil extraction. All participants came from communities situated in areas with oil fields. The training included methods and tools for environmental monitoring as well as methods for strengthening dialogue and conflict management between local communities and oil and gas companies.

Both self-studies and fieldwork

The project started in April 2024 and followed three steps. Initially, UNDP organized a meeting in Iquitos for all the participants. The meeting focused on theoretical exchange on socioenvironmental governance, also sharing experiences from PEM in the mining sector. The meeting was followed by three weeks of self-studies based on materials provided by UNDP. The third and final step of the project involved fieldwork which offered the participants an opportunity to put their theoretical knowledge into practice. During this step, the trainers visited the communities in the Amazonas to provide on-site support.

“Overall the project was a big success. Not only are we delighted to have 95 new PEM-certified persons, we also increased the commitment for environmental and social sustainability within the local communities. Thanks to the training it has become more obvious to everyone why these questions are so important,” said Doris Huando, EGP Focal Point at UNDP Peru.

“The training was the first of its kind, and it was also very educational for us at UNDP Peru,” Doris continued. “We will be able to reuse and develop this methodology in future projects.”