Is wind energy production clean throughout its supply and production chain?
The Balsa flower (Ochroma pyramidale) is a native species from the Americas, with a wide geographical distribution. It can be found from southern Mexico to Bolivia, including in the Antilles. This tree grows in disturbed areas of humid tropical forests, it is fast growing, and plays an important role in the ecological system of forests. Its very striking and large flower blooms at sunset and remains like that all night. Additionally, its exquisite fragrance attracts pollinating insects, which in turn are the meal of other animals such as: kinkajúes, olingos, monkeys, and certain rodents that are the natural prey of snakes. Furthermore, some species of frogs also live among its petals. In addition to insects, other animals such as hummingbirds and bats feed on the nectar of its flower and help to pollinate it. The Balsa flower grows on the banks of the rivers of the tropical forests and regulates floodwaters, when the flow of the rivers increase.
Indigenous Peoples that have lived in tropical forests for a long time know the benefits of the Balsa flower. They use its leaves in infusions to cure some diseases. Additionally, Indigenous Peoples have also discovered the main characteristic of the trunk, a resistant and very light wood that floats well on water. With it, Indigenous Peoples carve elegant sculptures, build houses, boats and trays to prepare food, make toys such as stilts. Also, the Balsa plant has been used to build vessels for river transportation, which allowed Indigenous Peoples (according to some studies) to navigate great distances.
In this context, the Balsa flower has been the subject of great news headlines in the world. In 1947 the explorer Thor Heyerdahl built a raft which he baptized with the name of “Kon-tiki” and sailed from the coasts of Peru to Polynesia powered only by the currents and wind. there is also the famous story of the Cuban raft where the young Elián drifted for several days as a child towards the United States coast, about 20 years ago. Around the world the light wood of the Balsa is used mainly to make surfboards and scale airplanes for model airplanes.
Due to the unique properties of Balsa wood, today it is used to make wind turbines. This new form of “clean” energy production is on the rise, far exceeding the photoluminic generation industry since these wind turbines can produce energy throughout the day.
The desire to build wind turbines, requires huge amounts of balsa wood, which has caused its indiscriminate exploitation, mainly in the Ecuadorian Amazon (including during the pandemic caused by COVID-19), and has encouraged a series of exploitative ventures by indigenous community members themselves. They know the location of these trees in their territories and cut them down without any technical reference. As a result, greedy loggers enter pristine territories where indigenous communities live in isolation. Indigenous Peoples can be victims of diseases for which they have no defenses. In addition to the cultural and social violations to which indigenous populations are exposed by these aggressive activities, what bears the greatest negative impact is the biodiversity and the unique environment of the tropical forests. Also, the entire Balsa flower population is being wiped out regardless of its enormous environmental, cultural and historical service.
It should be noted that the production of clean energy must be clean throughout the production and supply chain. In no way can the destruction of the environment and its cultures be justified to satisfy the need of alternative energy users. The production of wind generators should ensure that supplies come from planted and certified forests, where best environmental and social practices have been applied. The race for the development and manufacture of clean energies is progressing, in the same way social responsibility must advance. Users-buyers must demand fair origins and transparency throughout the supply and production chain.
