The situation in the Amazon has gotten worse. That’s according to a recent report by the Food and Agriculture Organization, titled “Forest Governance by Indigenous and Tribal Peoples.” The report was jointly published with FILAC, the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean.
DAVID KAIMOWITZ
“In the last five to 10 years the situation has changed in a very significant way, and decision-makers are not aware of the new threats in those territories. In that way, the report is a wake-up call.”
David Kaimowitz coordinated the preparation of the FAO’s report. He says that the economic crisis suffered in Latin America before the coronavirus pandemic greatly contributed to the current threats to the region’s ecosystem, by forcing many governments to reduce their budgets for conservation efforts.
DAVID KAIMOWITZ
FAO
“The current situation is very difficult economically. There are many governments that think the way to bolster their economies is through mining more minerals, producing more petroleum, and expanding cattle ranching. This is a threat to the areas that, at the end of the day, are going to provide water to the entire region.”
The report is a review of over 300 studies published in the last 20 years. It highlights how the best conserved areas are those where indigenous peoples have been recognized and protected under the law with collective territorial rights.
As a result, the FAO is asking local governments to respect, protect and promote the rights of indigenous communities, because they are the best defense against a humanitarian and climate crisis.
Javier Romero
