The new left-wing president recalled the essential role of indigenous peoples in curbing deforestation and slowing down global warming.
Brazilian President Lula assured on Monday that he intended to approve “as soon as possible” new lands reserved for the natives, a legalization that remained at a standstill under the mandate of his far-right predecessor Jair Bolsonaro.
“I have asked the Ministry of Indigenous Affairs to show me all the lands ready to be approved. They must be approved as soon as possible, before others appropriate them (…) by establishing false documents”, has declared Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva during an assembly of indigenous leaders in the state of Roraima (north).
“We must quickly legalize all the land whose studies (delimitation) are ready or practically ready, so that the natives can occupy their territory”, insisted the left-wing president.
“The natives do not occupy anyone’s land”
In the Brazilian Amazon, it is common for individuals to grab land to deforest it and then officially claim it using false documents.
Lula recalled the essential role of indigenous peoples in curbing deforestation and slowing down global warming.
The approval of new indigenous lands “will help us take care of the climate, otherwise humanity will disappear because of our irresponsibility”, he said.
“The natives do not occupy anyone’s land, they fight to recover what they have been deprived of by invaders since 1500”, the year of the arrival of the first Portuguese colonizers in Brazil, added the head of state.
Deforestation at its highest in the Amazon
According to the latest census, dating from 2010, some 800,000 indigenous people live in the country, most of them in reserves which occupy 13.75% of the territory.
Shortly before starting his mandate (2019-2022), Jair Bolsonaro had promised “not to give up one more centimeter” to indigenous lands, and the process of approving new reserves has effectively remained at a standstill for the past four years. .
Under his presidency, average annual deforestation has also increased by 75% compared to the previous decade.
The return to power of Lula, who had already governed Brazil from 2003 to 2010, had no immediate effect on deforestation, which increased by 62% last month compared to February 2022, with 322 km2 destroyed, a record.
But environmental groups believe it is too early to draw conclusions. According to them, it will be necessary to wait for the dry season, from July, when deforestation is usually at its highest, to assess the effects of the environmental policy of the new left-wing government.
