Brazil President Lula grants 18 new quilombola land titles covering 11,600 hectares

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva attended a national gathering of quilombola women in the Federal District and delivered 18 new land titles to nine communities in six Brazilian states. The titles complete a regularisation process that now covers 11.6 thousand hectares and benefits roughly 1,780 families. Lula noted that Brazil has long ignored black and poor populations, saying, “For centuries this country treated the black people as if we did not exist.”

The administration now totals 74 titles issued during Lula’s current term, representing 93 thousand hectares and 8,317 families – about 34 % of all quilombola titles ever issued. Alongside the titles, the government announced a R$ 19 million housing credit programme for 200 families in the Kalunga community. Additional decrees were issued for territories in Bahia, Rio de Janeiro and Santa Catarina, affecting 333 families over 897 hectares. The Institute of National Colonisation and Agrarian Reform (Incra) also recognized the Porto Leocádio area in Goiás (20 families, 1.5 thousand hectares) and published technical reports for five more territories covering roughly 800 families and 22 thousand hectares.

Leaders from the newly titled Marajó community celebrated, with coordinator Carlene Printes saying, “We were positively surprised… this decree gives us security.” The titles are seen as a step toward greater protection, access to public policies and environmental stewardship by the quilombola peoples.