Indigenous territories recognized in Amazon Rainforest region

Three territories in Brazil's Amazon Rainforest region were declared indigenous on Monday (Apr 20) by a governmental decree. The demarcation, which stretches across 232,544 hectares, benefits four ethnic groups from the states of Amazonas and Pará.

The Mapari Indigenous Territory, located in the municipalities of Fonte Boa, Japurá, and Tonantins, in Amazonas state, inhabited by the Kaixana people, is the largest of the three reserves, with 157,246 hectares. Also in Amazonas, the 49,773-hectare Setemã Indigenous Territory, in the municipalities of Borba and Novo Aripuanã was also recognized, meeting the demand of the Mura ethnic group.

In the state of Pará, the Arara da Volta Grande do Xingu Indigenous Territory, in the municipality of Senador José Porfírio, was also made official. The area is occupied by the Arara and Juruna nations and covers 25.5 thousand hectares; its demarcation comes as part of the licensing procedures of the Belo Monte power plant.

Last week, the head of the Secretariat-General of the Presidency, Minister Miguel Rossetto, reiterated to representatives from the National Articulation of Indigenous Peoples the federal government's commitment with indigenous rights.

“These demarcation decrees are important to ensure land for the communities directly interested and show that the federal government is intent on the enforcement of the rights of the indigenous people. In this connection, other areas may be demarcated and officialized still this year,” said head of the National Indian's Foundation (Funai) Flácio Chiarielli.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira

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