Operations Around Munduruku Indigenous Lands Target Illegal Mining

The preservation of the Amazon and the protection of Indigenous lands have sparked a series of federal operations in the region. In just ten days, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation [Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/ICMBio] carried out two operations in the Tapajós Environmental Protection Area [Área de Proteção Ambiental/APA] in the state of Pará, dismantling a significant criminal infrastructure set up by illegal mining. The APA borders the Munduruku Indigenous Lands, where a major federal disintrusion operation is underway.

Dubbed Operations Guardian and Shield, [Operações Guardião e Escudo], the operations—carried out over ten days until Tuesday (Nov. 26)—have already yielded substantial results.

Among the items destroyed or rendered unusable are: 44 boats; 12 pieces of heavy machinery; seven excavating dredges; 29 stationary engines; eight generators; two tractors; nine motorcycles; 4,300 liters of various fuels; 209,1 grams of mercury; and chainsaws and ammunition. Accounting indicates that these criminal efforts lost BRL 6.39 million. ICMBio has also levied BRL 20.27 million in fines.

GOALS AND STRATEGIES

• Protecting the Environment: Removing invaders from conservation units and preventing the return of illegal deforestation.

• Enforcing the Law: Destroying illegal structures, applying embargoes, and fining offenders.

• Raising awareness: Strengthening dialogue with local communities, explaining the damage caused by illegal practices.

DISINTRUSION — In the context of combating illegal mining, on Nov. 9, the federal Government began an operation to remove invaders from the Munduruku Indigenous Lands in the municipalities of Jacareacanga and Itaituba, in Pará. The operation aims to expel those illegally extracting gold and to ensure that the territory remains exclusively with the local Indigenous peoples.

The removal of invaders from the Munduruku Indigenous Lands, alongside Operations Guardião and Escudo, reiterates the federal government's commitment to protecting Brazil's natural resources. Through continuous and coordinated actions, it is suppressing illegal activities and raising awareness about environmental preservation.

The results of the operations highlight the priority of combating the deforestation and predatory exploitation of the Amazon. The fight to preserve the environment remains as a collective and ongoing effort.