MINING CONCESSIONS, PEASANT COMMUNITIES AND SOCIAL CONFLICTS IN THE PUNO REGION

Abstract

Mining concessions in the Puno region have been gradually increasing, and although it has declined, they are still maintained. We consider that one of the main factors that has led to the decrease of the concessions are the social and environmental conflicts produced in the region due to the fact that various mining concessions have fallen on communal land. These affected communities have shown their discomfort because they consider that the concessions granted by the State are not legal because they were not consulted in a timely manner and, therefore, they would be affected in the disposal of their surface land; However, there is confusion about the nature of the mining concession process, which is why the start of new social conflicts between the owners of surface properties and the holders of mining concessions.