Brazil Expands Indigenous Territories Amidst Climate Protests at COP30

Tue Nov 18 2025 18:24:00 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a bold move during COP30, Brazil has created 10 new Indigenous territories to protect the climate and culture, paralleling strong protests demanding further action.

Brazil has announced the formation of 10 new Indigenous territories, a significant step at the ongoing COP30 climate summit. This initiative aims to safeguard the environment and preserve indigenous culture, amidst escalating protests from activists urging for immediate climate action. The new territories cover parts of the Amazon and are protected by law, although enforcement has been inconsistent in the past. This declaration highlights Brazil’s commitment under President Lula's leadership, contrasting the previous administration's stance on Indigenous rights and land management.

Brazil, the host of the COP30 climate summit, has announced the establishment of 10 new Indigenous territories, a significant development amidst widespread protests aimed at calling for greater climate action. This decision comes as activists have taken to the streets, with some signs demanding 'demarcation now.'

The designated territories, including one located in a section of the Amazon, will ensure cultural and environmental protections under Brazilian law, though previous enforcement has left much to be desired.

This declaration marks a continuation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s efforts, who recognized 11 Indigenous territories last year. These measures will be officially enacted through a presidential decree.

The Indigenous Peoples’ Day at COP30 saw thousands rallying outside the summit. Protests escalated last week when demonstrators, including some Indigenous activists, broke into the conference, confronting security forces. In response, security has increased considerably, now featuring armed soldiers and police at entrances, although many Indigenous groups lack the necessary accreditation to attend.

Over 200 human rights organizations vocalized criticism toward the heightened security measures, regarding them as part of a disturbing global trend aimed at suppressing dissent and marginalizing environmental defenders.

Notably, past declarations of Indigenous reserves have effectively restricted logging, mining, and commercial farming to mitigate deforestation. Studies indicate that expanding recognized Indigenous territories could prevent up to 20% of future deforestation, potentially lowering carbon emissions by 26% by the year 2030.

This newly declared territory encompasses hundreds of thousands of hectares, providing habitat for various Indigenous peoples including the Mura, Tupinambá de Olivença, Pataxó, Guarani-Kaiowá, Munduruku, Pankará, and Guarani-Mbya.

One of the territories overlaps significantly with the Amazon National Park, an area vital for climate regulation and carbon storage. This announcement aligns with the growing contention that the Amazon rainforest is critically endangered as attempts to revoke key protections escalate.

Countries at COP30 are negotiating agreements to restrict global temperature rises, with alarming projections indicating that a 2C increase could lead to dire consequences including severe heat waves and food insecurity.