Illicit trade in timber: an outline of the problems facing Peru

The land of Peru can be divided into three natural areas: the coastal region, the mountains, and the forests. With the latter extending over more than 70 million hectares (700,000 km2), and covering 60% of the national territory. Most of this forest area consists of what is commonly known as the Peruvian Amazon. This immense humid tropical forest, traversed by the River Amazon, contains numerous natural resources, including oil, gas and, above all, wood.