By Broddi SigurĂ°arson
COP30 host nation Brazil has officially established 10 new Indigenous territories, including one located partly within the Amazon rainforest, at a time when the climate summit has been marked by significant protests. The new designations aim to ensure cultural and environmental protection under Brazilian law—though enforcement remains inconsistent.
This latest move builds on prior actions taken by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, whose administration granted recognition to 11 Indigenous territories last year. The new territories will be confirmed through a presidential decree in the coming days.
The development arrives as thousands of demonstrators protest at the UN climate conference, with participants raising placards reading “demarcation now”. Earlier last week, activists—including members of Indigenous communities—stormed part of the venue, carrying signs stating “our forests are not for sale” and clashing with security guards.
In response, security measures at the summit have been substantially tightened, with an increased presence of armed police and soldiers at the entrance. Many Indigenous representatives do not possess accreditation to access the conference area.
Over 200 human rights organisations issued a joint letter to UN officials on Monday condemning the intensified security protocols, warning that such actions “contribute to an increasing global trend towards the silencing of dissent, militarised response to protest, and marginalisation of those defending land and the environment”.
Historically, recognising Indigenous reserves has barred mining, logging, and limited commercial agriculture in these territories, aiming to curb deforestation. A study conducted by the Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil, the Amazon Environmental Research Institute, and the Indigenous Climate Change Committee suggests that expanding the scope of protected Indigenous lands could prevent as much as 20% of further deforestation and reduce carbon emissions by 26% by 2030.
The newly protected zones cover several hundred thousand hectares and are home to Indigenous groups including the Mura, Tupinambá de Olivença, Pataxó, Guarani-Kaiowá, Munduruku, Pankará, and Guarani-Mbya peoples. One of the territories overlaps with more than 78% of the Amazon National Park—part of one of the world’s most biodiverse ecosystems, which plays a vital role in carbon storage and regulating the global climate.
Brazil’s announcement coincided with Indigenous Peoples’ Day at COP30 on Monday. Officials highlighted that prior to Lula’s return to office, no new Indigenous territories had been recognised since 2018. Under former far-right president Jair Bolsonaro, who backed the mining of Indigenous areas, protections were often left unimplemented.
Lula’s administration has since taken steps to remove illegal miners from Indigenous territories. To date, Indigenous lands in Brazil cover approximately 117.4 million hectares—around 13.8% of the country’s landmass, equivalent to the size of Colombia. According to national census data, Brazil is home to hundreds of Indigenous groups.
Concerns remain over a potential rise in deforestation within the Amazon, as efforts intensify to overturn key environmental protections. Healthy, dense forests are essential in drawing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Burning of fossil fuels continues to be a major driver of climate change. Delegates at COP30 are working toward agreements aimed at restricting global temperature increases to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels, while keeping them “well below” 2°C. The UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change has warned that exceeding 2°C in warming could lead to severe consequences, including rising sea levels, extreme heat events, and growing threats to global food security.Â
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