Indigenous lands provide highest level of protection for biodiversity
During a ceremony for the Day of Indigenous Peoples on April 19, the Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, emphasized the importance of recognizing indigenous peoples as key players in finding solutions to environmental issues and the climate crisis. 
In her speech, the minister highlighted that deforestation data across various biomes clearly demonstrate that indigenous lands offer the highest level of protection for biodiversity in the country.
Guajajara emphasized the need of making progress on land demarcation and stressed that non-indigenous society must recognize the importance of this issue being at the forefront of political debates, alongside the discussions around environment and climate change.
“It’s not just a matter of acknowledging the presence of indigenous peoples, but also recognizing and respecting the ways of life of indigenous peoples, the Federal Constitution, the fulfillment of the demarcation of indigenous territories. We can no longer deny that indigenous territories are essential to contain this climate crisis, we can no longer deny that indigenous territories are the areas with the greatest protection of biodiversity," she said.
The minister pointed out that despite years of setbacks in the debate on indigenous rights, some progress is being made, such as the establishment of the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples and the appointment of indigenous leaders to key functions like Joenia Wapichana, who is the first indigenous woman to hold the position of head at the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI).
However, Guajajara emphasized that despite the recent progress, the demarcation of indigenous lands remains the top priority for indigenous peoples. She pointed out that there are still many territories awaiting regularization, demarcation, and homologation.
"We are the result of the struggles of indigenous peoples, and we stand here today as a result of our resilience and resistance. We are the continuation of those who never gave up or retreated. Today, we assume this place [of prominence]. We will continue to fight for the conquest of our territories, which remains our banner of struggle," the minister added.
