By Steven Grattan MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 Indigenous leaders in Peru are warning that a government decision to reconsider protections for one of the world\u2019s largest uncontacted Indigenous groups could expose more of their Amazon rainforest territory to logging, raising fears of violent encounters and the spread of life-threatening diseases. The Mashco Piro, who live deep in the forests of southeastern Peru and avoid contact with outsiders to preserve their traditional way of life, have increasingly been spotted near encroaching logging concessions in recent years, highlighting growing pressure on their ancestral lands. Eusebio Rios Iviche, vice president of the Indigenous organization FENAMAD, told The Associated Press on Monday the decision threatens to reverse years of efforts to protect the Mashco Piro, exposing them to greater risks of encounters with outsiders… <\/p>\n
By Steven Grattan MEXICO CITY (AP) \u2014 Indigenous leaders in Peru are warning that a government decision to reconsider protections for one of the world\u2019s largest uncontacted Indigenous groups could expose more of their Amazon rainforest territory to logging, raising fears of violent encounters and the spread of life-threatening diseases. The Mashco Piro, who live deep in the forests of southeastern Peru and avoid contact with outsiders to preserve their traditional way of life, have increasingly been spotted near encroaching logging concessions in recent years, highlighting growing pressure on their ancestral lands. Eusebio Rios Iviche, vice president of the Indigenous organization FENAMAD, told The Associated Press on Monday the decision threatens to reverse years of efforts to protect the Mashco Piro, exposing them to greater risks of encounters with outsiders... <\/p>\n