Deforestation in indigenous lands (TIs) in the Brazilian Amazon caused the emission of 96 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) between 2013 and 2021. Of this total, 59% were emitted in the last three years analyzed (2019-2021), when there was an intensification of devastation, according to research led by Brazilians published in the journal Scientific Reports. Emission played a role in these areas as a “carbon sink” in the forest.
“The advance in CO2 emissions is the result of increased deforestation, which impacts the forest, and thus this forest ends up turning into greenhouse gases that will negatively contribute to global warming and climate change”, explains the first author of the article, Celso HL Silva-Junior, permanent professor of the Graduate Program in Biodiversity and Conservation at the Federal University of Maranhão (UFMA).
Considered an efficient model for preserving the forest, ILs have been under increasing pressure, such as the increase in mining and illegal loggers. With the advance of devastation, caused by different environmental risks, such as the weakening of enforcement and the reduction of protection and rights of peoples, indigenous lands can revert to the vital role of protected areas in combating climate change and maintaining the forest in foot.
“The work showed that the increase in deforestation, especially in the last three that we analyzed, 2019, 2020 and 2021, which coincided with the last government, has this reversal of the role of these indigenous lands, precisely because there was a weakening of the entire management system environment in the country, the inspection of bodies linked to indigenous issues, all of this has led to an increase in deforestation in these areas”, highlights the professor, who also adds:
“These indigenous lands were created, first to guarantee the right of indigenous peoples, but they also serve as areas to avoid these carbon emissions. So it is a solution to reduce these carbon emissions, which would help Brazil in the commitments assumed in the climate agreements”. Brazil assumed in the Paris Climate Agreement the goal of recovering 12 million hectares of forest by 2030 and committed itself to neutralizing carbon emissions by 2050.
The research showed that deforestation in the ILs reached an area of 1,708 square kilometers (km² ), which is equivalent to 2.38% of all deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon in the period. In 232 ILs analyzed, the devastation rate was, on average, 35 km² per year, representing an increase of 129% between 2013 and 2021. Considering only the last three years, the growth was 195%.
“In absolute numbers, the devastated area in the ILs may seem small, but, as it is a region destined for environmental protection, the magnitude of the impact is much greater. As in the case of Terra Yanomami, conflicts and the invasion of these lands caused the proliferation of diseases, contamination by mercury and water resources, which led to the death of several Yanomami indigenous people”, laments the professor.
The study presents other worrying information: forest clearance is 30% further from the borders towards the interior of indigenous lands, entering up to 8.87 km per year beyond the border. “In the past, it was concentrated on the borders of indigenous lands, however deforestation in the last three years of analysis had the capacity to penetrate even further into these indigenous lands. And this is dangerous because it is leading to anthropic activities [atuação humana sobre a natureza, com intencionalidade de modificação], which can impact isolated indigenous peoples, ends up carrying diseases and becomes a public health problem within these indigenous lands,” warned Silva-Junior.
Two-way street
Tropical forests are one of the most important ecosystems in mitigating climate change. But they can work as a two-way street, absorbing carbon while they grow and maintain themselves, but releasing gases when degraded or deforested, hence the importance of conservation and policies to combat deforestation, reinforces the researcher.
“Indigenous lands play a crucial role in preserving forests. That is why it is also interesting that the current government, as recently announced, will demarcate six new indigenous lands. In addition to these, may we have more TIs. The forest areas, within the domain of the Federal Government, they need to be destined for conservation, it is something beneficial both for Brazil and for the world, in several fields”.
Deforestation
The research shows that 42% of the ILs analyzed had a high deforestation rate, and in 20 of them the trend was more significant. Among these, TI Arara recorded the lowest rate (0.02 km² per year), while Apyterewa had the highest (8.58 km² per year). Both are located in the State of Pará.
On the other hand, 11% of the analyzed areas reduced deforestation, with five more significantly. Among them is the TI Alto Turiaçu, in Maranhão, where around 1,500 indigenous people from the Awa Guajá, Ka’apor and Tembé peoples live.
“It is something that we are still going to investigate in more depth. In the case of Maranhão, these are areas that have been deforested and are indigenous lands that have their own initiatives to combat illegal loggers and miners. Although there has been this official weakening of the protection of these areas, these areas have indigenous initiatives that curb these illegal activities within these lands”, explained Silva-Junior.
Public policies
In the article, the researchers described six recommendations to contribute to the advancement of public policies aimed at preventing the advance of deforestation in these areas.
They are: the repeal of laws and norms that caused environmental setbacks; the strengthening of oversight institutions; the creation of buffer zones of 10 km between ILs and mineral exploration areas or high-impact projects, in addition to canceling all CARs (Rural Environmental Registry) within ILs.
They also propose support for initiatives that promote agriculture and other sustainable land use practices, including ecosystem restoration projects, and the strengthening of remote sensing monitoring, with investments in the development of new systems with improvements in frequency and scale.
Finally, they recall the importance of strengthening the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples (Funai), the federal body responsible for guaranteeing indigenous rights.
The study also received funding through the Greenhouse Gas Research and Innovation Center (RCGI) – an Engineering Research Center (CPE) constituted by FAPESP and Shell at the University of São Paulo (USP) – and a Thematic Project linked to the FAPESP Research Program on Global Climate Change (PFPMCG).
Agência Brasil