Environmental Threats over Amazonian Indigenous Lands

Ana C. Rorato, Michelle C. A. Picoli, Judith A. Verstegen, Gilberto Camara, Francisco Gilney Silva Bezerra and Maria Isabel S. Escada
Additional contact information
Ana C. Rorato: Earth System Science Center, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil
Michelle C. A. Picoli: National Institute for Space Research (INPE), General Coordination of Earth Sciences (CGCT), São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil
Judith A. Verstegen: Laboratory of Geo-Information Science and Remote Sensing, Wageningen University, 6708 PB Wageningen, The Netherlands
Gilberto Camara: Group on Earth Observations (GEO), CH-1211 Geneva, Switzerland
Francisco Gilney Silva Bezerra: Earth System Science Center, National Institute for Space Research (INPE), São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil
Maria Isabel S. Escada: National Institute for Space Research (INPE), General Coordination of Earth Sciences (CGCT), São José dos Campos 12227-010, Brazil

Land, 2021, vol. 10, issue 3, 1-28

Abstract: This study investigates the main threats related to environmental degradation that affect Amazonian Indigenous Lands (ILs). Through a cluster analysis, we group ILs according to the set of common environmental threats that occur within and outside their limits. The results show that most of the 383 ILs are affected internally by a combination of different environmental threats, namely: deforestation, forest degradation, fires, mining, croplands, pastures, and roads. However, the ILs affected by multiple and relatively severe threats are mainly located in the arc of deforestation and the Roraima state. The threats related to forest loss (deforestation, forest degradation, and fires) are more intense in the ILs’ buffer zones than within, showing that ILs effectively promote environmental preservation. In the cluster analysis, we identified seven clusters that are characterized by common environmental threats within and around their limits, and, based on these results, we have outlined four environmental policy priorities to be strengthened and applied in Amazonian ILs: protecting ILs’ buffer zones; strengthening surveillance actions, and combating illegal deforestation, forest degradation, and mining activities in ILs; preventing and fighting fires; and removing invaders from all ILs in the Amazon. In this study, we warn that the threats presented make the Indigenous peoples in the Amazon more vulnerable. To guarantee indigenous peoples’ rights, illegal actions in these territories and their surroundings must be contained, and quickly.

Keywords: Indigenous rights; Indigenous lands; environmental degradation; policy; Amazon; cluster analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (8)

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