Dozens of international groups, the United Nations and even Peru’s own ombudsman have raised objections to a new law that weakens the country’s environmental protection.

The law strips Lima’s environment ministry of jurisdiction over air, soil and water quality standards as well as removing its ability to set limits for harmful substances.

It also eliminates the ministry’s power to establish nature reserves safe from mining and oil drilling.

More than 100 environmental and other non-governmental groups including Oxfam and The Sierra Club have written to President Humala complaining the law will reward polluters and spur the expansion of eco-hostile industries.

They say the law violates free-trade agreements with Washington and the European Union which stipulate that environmental protections cannot be weakened to spur investment.

Enacted by President Ollanta Humala after limited debate in Congress, the law also limits environmental reviews of new projects and cuts by half the maximum fines for all but the most serious environmental violations.

At the same time, it re-establishes tax breaks for mining multinationals, which already enjoy indefinite concessions for both exploration and exploitation.

In some states more than half the territory is under concession.

President Humala had previously appealed to other countries for aid to enable his government to continue developing a high level of environmental protection but met with little or no response.

Activists predict the weakened protections will spark more clashes between police who protect mines and highlanders angered by contamination and diminished water supplies.