In the Peruvian Amazon, the survival of the Mashco Piro, one of the region’s uncontacted peoples, is once again under threat. Logging operations carried out by the company Maderera Canales Tahuamanu are pushing deep into ancestral territories, triggering serious health and social risks.
The Alarm Raised by the Yine Communities
A Yine Indigenous community has reported an alarming event: some Mashco Piro, who usually remain isolated and unseen, have ventured into their village. A rare occurrence, which coincides with the resumption of logging activities in the area.
“We hear the engines. So do they. Heavy machinery is again crossing our river and felling our trees,” said Enrique Añez, president of the Yine community, ancestrally linked to the Mashco Piro.
The Risk of Epidemics and Clashes
Forced incursions into uncontacted territories can trigger devastating epidemics: the Mashco Piro lack immunity to common diseases. Moreover, territorial invasion increases the likelihood of violent clashes. In 2024, four loggers were killed, though no information is available on potential Mashco Piro casualties.
FSC Suspends Certification, but Logging Continues
Following pressure from Indigenous organizations and international groups like Survival International, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) temporarily suspended its sustainability certification for Maderera Canales Tahuamanu until November. Despite this, the company built a bridge over the Tahuamanu River, allowing bulldozers and trucks to access new logging areas.
An Incomplete Reserve and a Broken Promise
In 2022, the Madre de Dios Territorial Reserve was established to protect the lands of various uncontacted peoples. However, large portions of Mashco Piro territory were excluded and granted as logging concessions to companies like Maderera Canales Tahuamanu.
Back in 2016, the Peruvian government promised to expand the reserve, but that promise remains unfulfilled.
“Conservation Areas”: A Misleading Solution?
A recent FSC assessment suggested that the suspension could be lifted if the company were to establish “conservation areas” within its concession. The proposal sparked outrage among activists.
“This is their ancestral forest. Their home. It is not negotiable,” stated Caroline Pearce, General Director of Survival International. Community leader Añez echoed the sentiment: “They label the timber as ‘certified forest’, but it should read ‘sacrificed people’.”
A Call for Responsibility
Pearce made a strong appeal: “The Peruvian government must demarcate and protect the entire Mashco Piro territory and cancel all logging concessions. Indigenous land must be managed by Indigenous peoples—not subject to corporate greed.”
Justice for FENAMAD: A Legal Victory
In July 2025, the Peruvian Supreme Court overturned a sanction issued in 2021 against the Indigenous organization FENAMAD, ruling that the gag order violated their right to due process and freedom of expression.
The sanction stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Maderera Canales Tahuamanu after FENAMAD publicly denounced its activities. A regional court had previously imposed a restraining order to silence the group and prevent it from defending the rights of the Mashco Piro.
FENAMAD welcomed the ruling, stating: “Protecting the lives of our uncontacted brothers and sisters is part of our struggle.”