Statement 

Campaign for Nature Denounces Attack on Indigenous Land Rights in Brazil

Brazil’s lower house of Congress approved legislation on Tuesday that will have major negative implications for the territorial rights of Indigenous peoples.  The legislation allows the government to seize land from Indigenous communities if it deems their cultural traits have changed.  It also places an unreasonable time limit and cut off date on claims that will undermine large areas of Indigenous territorial claims.

Campaign for Nature director Brian O’Donnell denounced the attack on Indigenous territorial rights in Brazil and said: 

“At a time when safeguarding and enhancing Indigenous territorial rights is an essential pathway for cultural survival, biodiversity conservation and climate mitigation, Brazil’s lower house of Congress is instead severely limiting Indigenous rights.”

“If the world is to maintain its important cultural diversity, or achieve its biodiversity and climate goals, Indigenous peoples’ territories must be recognized and secured.  We are outraged by the assault on Indigenous territories and the disenfranchisement of Indigenous people.  Their rights to their ancestral lands must be secured.”

“We stand in solidarity with Indigenous people in Brazil and around the world, who are calling for this ill-conceived set of policies to be scrapped and for world leaders to recognize the territorial rights of Indigenous peoples.”