Government authorizes hiring 1,900 temporary civil servants to ensure protection of indigenous lands

The Federal Government has authorized 1,938 new temporary civil servants to be hired for the National Foundation for Indigenous Peoples [Fundação Nacional dos Povos Indígenas/Funai] to strengthen territorial protection strategies and compliance with court rulings that ensure environmental preservation and the rights of indigenous peoples.

The decision was published in the Federal Official Gazette on Tuesday, December 31, based on a joint ordinance issued by the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services [Ministério da Gestão e da Inovação em Serviços Públicos/MGI] and the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples [Ministério dos Povos Indígenas/MPI]. The measure responds to a temporary need — of exceptional public interest — for protection of isolated and recently contacted indigenous peoples; inspection and disintrusion of invaded indigenous lands; and implementation of actions determined by Brazil’s Arguments for Failure to Comply with a Fundamental Precept [Arguições de Descumprimento de Preceito Fundamental/ADPF] 709, 760 and 991.

Hiring the extra workforce is crucial facing the heightened pressure on indigenous territories — such as increasing illegal mining and environmental degradation.

MUNDURUKU — Funai is one of more than 20 agencies taking part in the disintrusion operation in the Munduruku Indigenous Lands in the state of Pará. These efforts, which have been underway since November 2024, involve the Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources [Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis/Ibama]; the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation [Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade/ICMBio]); and the National Force [Força Nacional], among others, to combat illegal activities, and to ensure the integrity of indigenous lands and the safety of local communities.

INSPECTION —  Among the challenges faced by the authorities in the region is the social impact of the rise in illegal activities — resulting in the contamination of rivers used by the communities, for example — and increasing cases of malaria. The Federal Government stresses that intensified environmental monitoring and joint operations are essential to ensure national sovereignty and the preservation of biodiversity.

COMBATING THREATS — With the extra workforce, the Government is strengthening the Foundation and its integration with the various bodies involved in territorial protection, stepping up the fight against the threats that jeopardize the future of Indigenous Lands and the Amazon as a whole.