The largest negative environmental impact in the Peruvian Amazon (PA) is deforestation. To date, more than 8.4 million hectares have already been deforested, and they continue to grow. Deforestation for the 2011-2020 was 50% higher than that of the 2001-2010 period. Deforestation in the Peruvian Amazon is linked to several factors that include agricultural activities, logging, petroleum drilling, u rban growth and road building as the major drivers of the process. Illicit activities such as illegal gold mining with a strong impact in Madre de Dios and illegal logging and illicit coca cultivation throughout the Amazon region are also playing an increasingly major role in deforestation of the Peruvian Amazon. Illicit coca has spread through the PA through several stages since the 1970’s. There are no detailed records of coca areas before the 80’s. As of 2001 with the initiation of UNOD...

Preservatives and preservation techniques give us access to the rich flavors of fresh food we all love while being away from the fields. Preservation techniques have been known since antiquity but they became more sophisticated after the Industrial Revolution as cities became more populous. Nowadays, preservatives are part of our daily life. They have become even more important as our society reaches for sustainability and food waste reduction. But the reader probably has a burning question: are they safe? The short answer is yes, they are safe. Let’s take a look at the history and chemistry of some of the most common chemicals used in food preservation techniques. With this information, the readers can decide on their own.