Amazonian Indigenous organizations threaten to boycott FSC over its stance on uncontacted Mashco Piro

“The FSC must stop endorsing the systematic violation of Indigenous people’s rights” 

Three key Amazonian Indigenous organizations have issued an unprecedented joint statement, accusing the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) of deliberately delaying a decision on whether to withdraw certification from a notorious logging company on uncontacted peoples’ land in the Peruvian Amazon. They have threatened to boycott further “pointless” negotiations with the FSC concerning the case.

The company, Canales Tahuamanu, has already bulldozed more than 120 miles of logging tracks deep into the territory of the uncontacted Mashco Piro people, whose images were broadcast around the world two weeks ago.

Canales Tahuamanu and the FSC have known for at least eight years that the Mashco Piro live in the area of its concession – yet the company’s timber is certified as ethical by the FSC. Under Peruvian and international law, the Mashco Piro forest should be protected.

The organizations – FENAMAD, a regional organization representing the Indigenous communities in the province where the now-famous photos were taken; AIDESEP, the national Amazon Indigenous organization of Peru; and COICA, an alliance of Indigenous organizations across all Amazonian countries – accuse the FSC of “endorsing the systematic violation of Indigenous people’s rights” and say, “[We] want action, not words!”

They also say “Respect for Indigenous rights – especially those of uncontacted peoples –  is clearly not an FSC priority.”

The Mashco Piro images released by Survival proved that more than 100 uncontacted people live in an area with multiple logging concessions, including one certified by the FSC. Worldwide publication of the images put the FSC under enormous pressure to justify its continuing certification, particularly since it has known for many years of the Mashco Piro’s presence, and Indigenous organizations had requested it take action four years ago..

The FSC issued a statement in July defending its refusal to suspend Canales Tahuamanu’s certification, and simply promising further “investigations.” The Indigenous organizations countered, noting that the FSC had already conducted two previous ‘evaluations’ in 2022 and 2023, and continued to certify the timber taken from the Mashco Piro land.

Survival International issued its own response to the FSC statement, saying: “The FSC’s response to the Mashco Piro crisis fails to address the facts raised over several years – logging could prove fatal to the uncontacted tribe and the destruction of their forest home is a violation of their human rights and international conventions.”

Fiona Watson, Research and Advocacy Director of Survival International, said the Indigenous statement should increase pressure on the FSC to end certification of wood from Mashco Piro territory. “The FSC is hiding behind yet another so-called investigation. It’s doing exactly what it’s done before – stalling for time,  to allow the destruction of the Mashco Piro’s forest to continue. The logging must end now – or the consequences for the Mashco Piro will be dire.”