Indigenous Peoples Reinforce Territorial Protection Strategies in the Mosaico Gurupi
December, 2024 (*) – The last major mobilization in defense of the forests of the Eastern Amazon region occurred in 2014, when a historic alliance between the Indigenous peoples of the northern part of the state of Maranhão was established in Serra do Bicho, the sacred territory of the Tenetehara people, located in the Caru Indigenous Land (Maranhão). At that landmark meeting, one of the most significant decisions was the integration of the Indigenous territories into the Mosaico Gurupi. Nine years later, these Indigenous Peoples met up again to reaffirm their commitment as guardians of life and biodiversity in this essential Amazon region.
“This meeting will also go down in history,” stated Rosilene Guajajara, speaking about the event Trilhando Ações Estratégicas de Proteção e Gestão Territorial do Mosaico Gurupi (Tracking Strategic Actions for the Protection and Territorial Management of the Mosaico Gurupi), that took place between November 19-21, at the Maçaranduba village, in the Caru Indigenous Land. “We are celebrating our strength in protecting the life in our territories,” stressed Rosilene, who acts as assistant secretary for the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the state of Maranhão.
The event brought together roughly 250 participants, including representatives from nine Indigenous peoples - Guajajara, Awá Guajá, Ka'apor, Tembé, Krahô, Krikati, Kanela, Apinajé and Akroá Gamela – and from government and educational institutions, as well as civil society organizations.
The main objective was to promote the sharing of experiences and discuss strategies for tackling challenges related to territorial protection, such as controlling invasions, deforestation and preventing and fighting forest fires. It was also aimed at strengthening a network of collaboration between Indigenous peoples, encouraging joint actions to keep the forest standing and guarantee a sustainable future for generations to come.
The meeting was promoted by the Instituto Sociedade, População e Natureza (ISPN), the Associação Wirazu and the Coordenação das Organizações e Articulações dos Povos Indígenas do Maranhão (Coapima), as part of the Aliança dos Povos Indígenas pelas Florestas da Amazônia Oriental project (Indigenous Peoples' Alliance for the Forests of the Eastern Amazon), supported by USAID.
The initiative is run in partnership with the Centro de Trabalho Indigenista (CTI), ISPN, Coapima, the Articulação das Mulheres Indígenas do Maranhão (Amima) and the Associação Wyty Catë das Comunidades Timbira do Maranhão e Norte do Tocantins. The event was also supported by the National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples (FUNAI), the Programa Copaíbas/Fundo Nacional para a Biodiversidade (FUNBIO), Floresta+/UNDP, the Coordenação das Organizações Indígenas da Amazônia Brasileira (COIAB) and the Projeto Paisagens Indígenas, supported by the Norwegian International Climate and Forests Initiative.
The urgency of recognition – Located between the state of Maranhão and eastern part of the state of Pará, the Mosaico Gurupi is one of the most important areas for conservation in the Eastern Amazon region. It covers roughly 46,000 km² and is made up of the Araribóia, Caru, Rio Pindaré, Awá, Alto Turiaçu and Alto Rio Guamá Indigenous Lands and the Gurupi Biological Reserve. It is considered a socio-environmental heritage with rich biodiversity, including endemic species of fauna and flora.
Despite its importance, the Mosaico Gurupi faces constant threats. Illegal logging, predatory hunting and fishing and deforestation for extensive cattle ranching all jeopardize the territory's integrity. These challenges are aggravated by forest fires and made worse by climate change and periods of prolonged drought, which threaten both the ecosystem and the survival of the Indigenous communities.
“We protect these territories because this is our home. We have seen the impacts of climate change: drought, fire and, as Indigenous peoples, we are defending the last forests in our state,” says the cacique Antônio Wilson, from the Maçaranduba village, who also holds the position of executive secretary of the Mosaico Gurupi Management Council.
For João Guilherme Nunes Cruz, coordinator of ISPN's Indigenous Peoples Program, the formal recognition of the Mosaico Gurupi is essential to strengthen territorial protection strategies. “The formal recognition will guarantee more institutional support for coordinated environmental management efforts and will strengthen the interface between the Indigenous Lands and the Gurupi Biological Reserve, the only protected areas in this part of the Amazon,” he explains.
The recognition was an opportunity to reinforce the demand for the formalization of the Mosaico Gurupi, with the construction of a territorial protection plan. A document was drawn up calling for official recognition by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI).
During the sharing of local strategies for territorial defense, the Ka'apor people recounted their experience with implementing the occupation of the boundaries of their territory and the setting up of new villages as a way of containing invasions. “We noted a drastic reduction in invasions, even though we were surrounded by non-Indigenous settlements,” explained Akadjurichan Ka'apor, leader of the Guardians.
Women played a prominent role in the protection actions. The Guerreiras da Floresta (Women Warriors of the Forest), from the Caru Indigenous Land, talked about promoting awareness campaigns with neighboring communities, while in the Rio Pindaré Indigenous Land they take part in the forest restoration, in partnership with Indigenous volunteer brigades. When it came to the young people, the importance of them playing an active role in both monitoring the territories and in political articulation was highlighted.
Exchange of experience – The Timbira peoples of the Cerrado in the state of Maranhão and in the northern part of the state of Tocantins took part in the event to learn about the management strategy based on the Mosaico Gurupi example, highlighting its importance as a model for conservation and shared management.
(*) Information material (text and video) was produced by ndreza Baré (ISPN) and Fernando Ralfer (CTI)
