Brazil Begins Demarcation of Pardo River Territory to Safeguard Kawahiva People The Brazilian government has initiated the demarcation of the Pardo River Kawahiva Indigenous territory, a critical step aimed at protecting one of the Amazon’s most vulnerable uncontacted communities. The process, confirmed by the National Indigenous Peoples’ Foundation (Funai), involves marking 410,000 hectares of land straddling the states of Amazonas and Mato Grosso. This marks a significant milestone in a long-delayed effort that has faced obstacles for over 27 years. The move is intended to establish a physical barrier against illegal logging, mining, and the expansion of industrial agriculture, which have posed severe threats to the Kawahiva people. The Kawahiva, a nomadic hunter-gatherer community, were first formally identified by specialists in 1999. Despite their remote existence, the group has faced persistent dangers from land encroachment and armed groups. Anthropologists note that the community has shown resilience, surviving in the deep forest despite these threats. Establishing clearly defined natural sanctuaries is seen as essential to safeguard the approximately 290 Kawahiva individuals from economic exploitation. Funai agents, including Jair Candor, have played a key role in identifying and protecting the community, according to campaigners. Indigenous leader Beto Marubo, from the Javari valley, emphasized the importance of recognizing Funai’s role in Brazil’s territorial management. He stated, “Funai needs to be valued by Brazil as a body responsible for about 14% of the national territory.#brazil #funai #jair_candor #pardo_river_kawahiva #betomarubo
Race Against Time: Kawahiva Demarcation Begins in Brazil’s Amazon More than 25 years after the existence of the uncontacted Indigenous people known as the Kawahiva do Rio Pardo was officially confirmed, the physical demarcation of their territory in central Brazil has finally begun. Jair Candor, the long-serving head of the FUNAI protection unit for the Kawahiva, initiated the process this week, marking a critical step toward securing the rights of the tribe. However, Survival International has issued a stark warning that the demarcation must be completed swiftly, as the Kawahiva face two imminent threats that could irreversibly endanger their survival. The first threat stems from the planned upgrade of a road running parallel to the southern border of the Kawahiva’s territory. This infrastructure project, if realized, would likely catalyze colonization and deforestation, as has been the pattern in the Amazon. Land grabbers, loggers, and cattle ranchers have already invaded surrounding areas, destroying thousands of hectares of forest and establishing ranching operations. A paved road would further open these regions to exploitation, accelerating environmental degradation and encroachment on the Kawahiva’s land. The second threat is political. Brazil’s general election, scheduled for October 2024, could result in the election of Flávio Bolsonaro, the son of former President Jair Bolsonaro. Flávio has publicly pledged that, if elected, no new Indigenous reserves will be demarcated in Mato Grosso, the state where the Kawahiva’s territory is located. This stance makes the current demarcation process urgent, as the new president’s term would begin in January 2027.#jair_candor #survival_international #flavio_bolsonaro #funai #kawahiva
