Indigenous voices rally in Brasília to defend Amazon's future
Thousands of indigenous Amazon inhabitants marched through Brazil's capital. Their demonstration aimed to remind everyone of the Amazon rainforest's crucial role in tackling the climate crisis.
Thousands of indigenous people from the Amazon marched through Brasília to highlight the importance of the Amazon rainforest, known as the "lungs of the world", in the context of the global climate crisis. This event coincided with the UN debate on climate change.
The march, highlighted by Brazilian media, expressed opposition to destroying the Amazon's pristine rainforests. Participants carried banners with slogans emphasizing that "our Indigenous lands and untouched forests are the best-preserved lungs of the world and help to mitigate the climate crisis."
The Amazon basin has experienced the most severe drought in the past two years. This drought has caused river levels to drop, increased the number of fires, and harmed wildlife. Research attributes these changes primarily to human activity.
This is a historic COP for the social movement. It’s a key moment for all Indigenous peoples to show that we are alive - said Juan Carlos Jintiach, executive secretary of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities of Indigenous Peoples.
The importance of Indigenous tribes
Brazilian indigenous tribes inhabit 13 per cent of the country's territory, mainly covered by the Amazon rainforest. Currently, the indigenous population of the Brazilian Amazon is about 900,000 people. Their presence and actions are crucial for protecting this unique ecosystem.
Among them are entirely isolated tribes that have no contact with modern civilisation. Unfortunately, this is increasingly encroaching on their lands. As "National Geographic" points out, the authorities are issuing more permits for logging in areas that serve as a sanctuary for these tribes.
