The Minister of Indigenous Peoples, Sonia Guajajara, said on Monday (17), the day the World March of Indigenous Peoples began, that 10 interpretive decrees on land demarcation will be published by the Civic House soon. A declaratory decree is the second formal step to formalizing indigenous lands.
Guajajara, who participated in Monday’s march, did not reveal what the territory would be. It has already stated that statements will be made during the COP, but has not yet said how much.
– This is progress in the demarcation of indigenous lands in Brazil – said the minister, who highlighted this morning’s march event as “historic”.
Demarcating more indigenous lands is the main agenda for indigenous peoples during the COP. Moreover, they were also protesting against specific measures, such as the Equatorial Margin oil exploration project and Federal Decree No. 12600, which paves the way for the construction of hydroelectric plants on the Tapajós, Madeira and Tocantins rivers.
Global goal to protect indigenous lands
Following the walk, an event was held in the Blue Zone to announce international and intergovernmental investments to protect indigenous lands, with the aim of consolidating 160 million hectares of land owned by indigenous peoples and local communities by 2030, through the unprecedented Intergovernmental Commitment to Land Tenure (ILTC), launched at the Leaders Summit, led by the Forest and Climate Leaders Partnership (FCLP) and co-chaired by the governments of Brazil, Peru and Norway.
Within the framework of the global target, Brazil committed to promoting and recognizing 59 million hectares and demarcating 5 million by the aforementioned date.
The commitment also expects contributions of $1.8 billion by 2030. There will be 39 donors: four national governments and 35 charities.
“The commitment expands this perspective beyond tropical forests, to reach dry areas, natural fields, peatlands, mangroves, coastal forests, and ecosystems essential to the life of many societies,” said Attila Roque, director of the Ford Foundation in Brazil, one of the donor organizations. — Indigenous, Afro-descendant and traditional community areas are among the most biodiverse areas on the planet. No response to the climate crisis is possible without listening to and strengthening those who protect our ecosystems.
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