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\u201cThe demarcation of Indigenous Lands is our ancestral right, provided to us in the Brazilian Federal Constitution. Those who invade an Indigenous Land destroy the forests and attack Indigenous People, who have been fighting for the protection of their families, cultures and lands for more than 500 years\u201d, <\/em>said Dinamam Tux\u00e1, executive coordinator of the Articula\u00e7\u00e3o dos Povos Ind\u00edgenas do Brasil (APIB).<\/p>\n\n Indigenous Land demarcation is a Constitutional right in Brazil, obtained after years of struggle and resistance. However, there\u2019s still much that the Brazilian government needs to do to meet its obligation. There are currently 429 Indigenous Territories officially recognised in the country, but that accounts for only 30,8% of the total area claimed by Indigenous Peoples.<\/p>\n\n According to the Brazilian organization CIMI (Conselho Indigenista Mission\u00e1rio), in 2021, out of the 1,393 Indigenous Lands in Brazil, 871 (62%) had their demarcation pending. And most of those – 598 areas – hadn’t had any action from the Brazilian government to even start the process. But land demarcation is not enough. There are currently several Indigenous Territories suffering from invasions by loggers and miners<\/a>. The government needs to recognise the territories, but also ensure its protection.<\/p>\n\n Illegal mining has exploded in Indigenous Lands in Brazil – even those who are already demarcated, like the Yanomami. The Kayap\u00f3 and the Munduruku territories are also being devastated by the activity that destroys rivers<\/a>, contaminates people with mercury<\/a> and brings violence and death to the Indigenous Lands.<\/p>\n\n According to a recent investigation by Greenpeace Brazil and Greenpeace East Asia,<\/a> one of the key elements that enabled the recent increase of illegal gold mining in Indigenous Lands is the introduction of excavators to the activity. The heavy machinery can do, in a matter of hours, the work that 3 men would take weeks to complete. <\/p>\n\n The destruction of the forest and Indigenous Territories is not only a threat to Indigenous People living in the region, but to everyone. The protection of Indigenous Lands is vital in the fight against the climate and biodiversity crises. Despite accounting for only 5% of the global population, Indigenous Peoples around the world protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n \u201cThe land demarcation is important not only for the Indigenous Peoples who live in those areas, but for the entire world as well. We know the importance of the Indigenous Territories for the protection of the forest, for the protection of life, for the balance of the planet’s climate, and for the protection of the human beings who live on Earth\u201d<\/em>, said Marciely Tupari, from the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB).<\/p>\n\n![\"Overflight](\"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/static\/planet4-international-stateless\/2023\/04\/e84da20b-gp0stvw3n_web_size.jpg\" "\\"Overflight")
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