Brazilian Federal Government registers significant drop in deforestation at Karipuna Indigenous Lands, concludes intruder removal operations

The Brazilian Federal Government has just compiled data regarding the removal of intruders from the Karipuna Indigenous Lands [TIKA], an area of ​​153 thousand hectares in the state of Rondônia, between the municipalities of Porto Velho and Nova Mamoré. The survey highlights the reduction in deforestation as a result of intruder removal operations by the Federal Government between June and July of this year.

The Ministry of Justice and Public Security [Ministério da Justiça e Segurança Pública] platform Rede Brasil Mais showed that deforestation within the Indigenous Lands was zero during that period. Over the same period in 2023, there were 20 deforestation alerts. The drop is even more significant when compared to June and July 2022, when 160 deforestation alerts were registered.

“Deforestation and invasions by loggers were the main threats to the Karipuna Lands and its people. We worked hard, alongside 210 federal civil servants, to return the use of the territory to the native people to whom it belongs,” stated Nilton Tubino, the Civil House [Casa Civil] representative who coordinated the operations.

The eviction process met its two-month timetable, from June to July, with the help of 20 federal agencies. According to the final Civil House report, the actions were successful and resulted in the “removal of the invaders, rendering their machinery and equipment useless, and monitoring and conservation of the invaded areas.” Altogether, 27 cubic meters of timber were seized, and another 27 m³ were rendered commercially unavailable. A raft, 38 access points and 17 bridges were also destroyed.

Moreover, another 28 illegally built facilities within TIKA were rendered useless. These places stored materials to be used for deforestation — such as fuel for chainsaws. All four identified illegal land routes were closed down. All 152 planned actions were carried out, meaning that the 42 indigenous people who resisted the decimation of their people now have their land back in its entirety, and with greater security. The Federal Government, through the National Force [Força Nacional] and the National Indigenous People Foundation [Fundação Nacional dos Povos Indígenas/FUNAI] will continue patrolling and monitoring the area to prevent new invasions.

Federal creation of the Karipuna Indigenous Lands was officially approved in 1998 — meaning that only the indigenous people are officially authorized to fully and exclusively make use of the natural resources therein, as provided by the Constitution. The eviction process also complies with a Supreme Federal Court [Supremo Tribunal Federal/STF] order pertaining to ADPF No. 709 and Federal Public Prosecutor's Office [Ministério Público Federal/MPF] proceedings against the Union, FUNAI and the State of Rondônia.