The fight for Indigenous land protection has been ongoing for many years, and now these lands are getting documented recognition for the efforts put forth to curb factors impacting Indigenous life. Among the lasting efforts, Mongabay publication is publishing a new edition of the book A Perfect Storm in the Amazon, chronicling the overview of the region’s conservation towards biodiversity, ecosystem services and Indigenous cultures, and provides a description of the conventional and sustainable economy models.
There are approximately 2.5 million Indigenous peoples living in the Pan-Amazon region, with about two-thirds within their original territories. But the fight to keep these territories has not been a whimsical one; they have occupied these regions for centuries and have engaged in armed resistance. Now relying on civil disobedience and political activism, these peoples have been granted legal title to their homeland, but that does not dismiss ongoing conflict. The Indigenous people of the Amazon have survived a multitude of genocidal events—slavery, war, epidemic disease, cultural annihilation, and Western colonization. In order to bring successful survival, many tribes retreated to isolated locations, rationing foods and other resources, and limited interaction with missionaries or trade merchants for Amazonian economy integration.
As of now, Indigenous communities must physically protect their land from timber thieves, gold miners and land grabbers, and the continuing urbanization battles regarding highway construction, petroleum exploration, and hydropower infrastructure development. The first Indigenous territory was conceived in 1961 as a national park in Brazil, fought for under the idea that Indigenous cultures were linked to the people’s livelihood, dependent on land and water access. Moving into 1991, the park was declassified as a protected land but deemed as an Indigenous territory. Under the recognition of Brazil and the Andean republics, many territories were recognized starting in the 1960s. The amount of the land ceded to an individual village or community was calculated by the level of support a family’s resource production needs. Governments also combined multiple communities to a single reserve to expand protected land.
The chronicles continue to detail Indigenous history and land development over the last 60 years. Outlining the tribes migration patterns, political engagement, and territory recognition and rights among the various nine Amazonian countries. The revitalization and concession of these Indigenous communities has allowed for monumental dividends to be dispersed. This will ensure that their territories will be managed as sustainable reserves, a feat brought from their defining commitment—commitment that is inherent in their culture.
