...We believe that the issue of land rights, especially involving poor, disadvantaged, or disenfranchised people is a critically important one, and we are glad that you are committed to helping people separate facts from fiction...

...We also include municipal, regional and national authorities as well as NGOs who seek to serve the people, forests and wildlife of the region. Our list includes: indigenous and non-indigenous people; long time residents of the region and recent migrant arrivals; Peruvian citizens as well as foreigners (some of whom are fleeing instability in other countries); legal property title holders, semi-formal possessors of land, and completely informal invaders in unsettled areas; governmental authorities, infants, children, families, and seniors. In our opinion, those who describe these situations in binary or overly simplistic terms do not understand them well. Human rights are at stake. Biodiversity is at stake. And climate change is at stake.

The genesis of almost all of the negative stories about us began with one or two organizations from outside this region. Forest Peoples Program is one of them. Their basic claim is that our company is in conflict with our neighbor, the Native Community of Santa Clara de Uchunya....

...Shortly after arriving in Peru, I accepted an invitation from the Community of Santa Clara de Uchunya to meet with them. At that time, the road that accessed their community was impassable, so I travelled downriver by boat with a team of others including local Peruvian officials from the District, to participate in an open assembly of the Community...At the end of the meeting, they issued a simple Act, requesting that we (Ocho Sur) work together with them on projects to improve the conditions and well-being of the community...

...Our relationship with the Community is based on a few simple, bedrock principles: 1) Respect – respect for community, for traditions, for individuals, for laws and for all perspectives (regardless of their origin) 2) Transparency – our activities are done in the full light of day, in public assemblies and meetings, and are documented in formal acts and documents. 3) Humility – as a company we are here to serve our stakeholders. Neighbors, especially those with very real needs are some of our most important stakeholders.

...The results are impressive: major infrastructure repairs have given year-round access to communities that suffered in isolation during many months each year, schools have been constructed and are offering new opportunities to the young people of the region, clean drinking water is now available in places where it was not, health campaigns have saved lives, ambulance services are now available and medical centers are being constructed to make permanent these improvements. And not a single lawsuit remains between the company and the Community.

There are many more videos on our youtube channel about the activities that are transforming the region...

...We have catalyzed a regional focus on improved healthcare, education, and sports. We have intentionally implemented women’s advancement programs. And we are honored to include a very large and active LGBTQ+ community within our company. This story is a remarkable one. It is the story of the people of the region. We would love to share the journey with you.

...[A]bove is my own response to your inquiry, from my perspective as the CEO of Ocho Sur, and as an American. However, our team at Ocho Sur is mostly made up of Peruvians. And inquiries like yours also generate interest from some of them....Attached is their response to accusations from Forest People’s Program. It provides much more support and documentation in response to the claims that FPP makes...