Amazonian leaders call on Scottish Parliament to end illegal logging links with wind farm

Yesterday (25 June), leaders from the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation, Peru, visited the Scottish Parliament to call on politicians to end illegal logging links with the UK’s largest floating offshore wind farm. 

Pamuk Teófilo Kukush Pati and Tsanim Evaristo Wajai Asamat, who are visiting Scotland this week, went to the Scottish Parliament to demand action to stop Scotland’s renewable energy plans from contributing to the illegal logging in the Wampís territory in the west of the Amazonian rainforest. 

Balsa wood, which is used in the manufacturing of wind turbine blades, grows naturally in the Amazon rainforest but the rising demand has resulted in many disputes and threats of violence on local Indigenous people. 

A 2024 investigation found that the Chinese wind turbine manufacturer, Mingyang, and others have allegedly relied for years on illegal balsa supply chains linked to the Wampís territory and those of neighbouring Indigenous people. 

Mingyang is China’s biggest offshore wind company and is the preferred manufacturer for Green Volt, Europe’s first commercial scale floating offshore wind farm. GreenVolt is located 80km off the North East coast of Scotland and is partly owned by the Scottish company Flotation Energy. The Scottish Government approved planning consent for the GreenVolt project in April 2024.

Pamuk Teófilo Kukush Pati, the Pamuk or elected president of the Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation said:
“We call on the Scottish Government not to invest in the big wind energy companies that are logging the Wampis territory. The same goes for the oil and mining companies. Rather, they should invest in our own productive projects, which help to feed our people and protect our territory and forests.”

Kim Pratt, Senior Campaigner for Friends of the Earth Scotland said:
“Exactly one year on from the passing of Scotland’s Circular Economy law, which requires the Scottish Government to consider that people and nature in supply chains are protected, the illegal use of balsa wood from the Wampis Nation would be a clear violation of that requirement.

“Scotland must transition away from fossil fuels but if this is done without considering the impact on other nations and nature, we will fail to create a better future. The Scottish Government should develop human rights and environmental standards for the public sector and guidance for the private sector to protect people and nature.”

Tom Younger, Peru Programme Coordinator and Policy Advisor, Forest Peoples Programme said:
“Whether it’s the extraction of rubber, gold, oil and gas or now balsa wood, Scotland and the rest of the UK owe a hefty historic climate and ecological debt to the Indigenous nations and peoples of the Peruvian Amazon.

“The Scottish and UK governments must take tougher measures to ensure that the expansion of wind power does not come at the cost of the Wampis nation’s lives, lands and livelihoods, and rather recognise and support their efforts to protect their territory. Given there are also UK-based financial institutions directing investment to oil extraction in their territory, extraction that they reject and have not consented to, it’s clear that there needs to be a new UK law that covers all sectors, requiring respect for human rights and the environment.”

Indigenous leaders from The Autonomous Territorial Government of the Wampís Nation (GTANW) – the first Indigenous people to declare autonomy in Peru – are returning to Scotland ahead of COP30, having sent representatives to Glasgow during COP26. 

The leaders will be engaging in several events and exchanges with communities across Scotland, including at the University of St Andrews, the Isle of Eigg and Torry Aberdeen. Amongst other things, they wish to share the importance of their autonomy, self-determination and self-governance, their culture and philosophy of Tarimat Pujut (to live well in harmony with nature). 

The leaders will present a position paper they have co-authored relating to the need for a UK corporate accountability law to Martin Whitfield MSP, who is accepting it on behalf of Douglas Alexander MP, on Monday 30 June at his constituency office.