Victory for Indigenous Rights: Logging Company's Certification Suspended

An international forestry group has suspended the sustainability certification of the Canales Tahuamanu logging company operating near an uncontacted tribe in Peru's Amazon. This decision, influenced by the NGO Survival International, marks an initial win for groups opposing logging in the Madre de Dios region.

An international forestry group has suspended the sustainability certification of a logging company operating on land near an uncontacted tribe in Peru's Amazon, the NGO Survival International announced on Monday, securing an early win for environmental advocates.

The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) pulled its certification of Canales Tahuamanu for eight months following sightings of the Mashco Piro tribe in late June in Peru's remote Madre de Dios region. The FSC stated that the suspension would commence on Sept. 13 while they investigate and consult with Peruvian authorities regarding land classification.

Both Peru's government and Canales Tahuamanu have yet to respond to requests for comment. Indigenous organizations claim the Mashco Piro are fleeing logging activities sanctioned by authorities. The logging firm holds concessions over nearly 53,000 hectares, extracting cedar and mahogany. Indigenous leader Julio Cusurichi from AIDESEP emphasized their ongoing struggle for indigenous rights. (Report by Marco Aquino; Writing by Alexander Villegas; Editing by Deepa Babington)

(With inputs from agencies.)