Indigenous groups block BR-163 highway in Pará over environmental mitigation

Indigenous groups from the Kayapó and Panará peoples have blocked a section of the BR-163 highway in Novo Progresso, Pará, to protest the lack of environmental mitigation measures. Represented by the Instituto Kabu, Associação Iakiô, and Associação Indígena Mantinó, the protesters are demanding the immediate renewal of emergency actions intended to reduce the highway's impact on indigenous territories.

The current third cycle of emergency measures under the Indigenous Component of the Basic Environmental Plan (PBA-CI) is set to expire on September 30. Indigenous leaders warn that without the formalization of a fourth cycle, essential protection teams, infrastructure, and territorial conservation efforts in the Panará, Baú, and Menkragnoti lands could be interrupted.

While the concessionaire, Via Brasil, has acknowledged previous agreements to provide assistance and land conservation during the study phase of the definitive plan, indigenous organizations describe the company's recent responses as insufficient. The impasse follows a Federal Court order for Funai, the Federal Public Ministry, and Via Brasil to address the immediate payment of funds to ensure continuity of these measures while technical analyses are finalized.