Traditional communities in Brazil lead climate and territorial autonomy initiatives

Indigenous and traditional communities in Brazil are advancing initiatives to strengthen territorial management and climate resilience. In Porto Velho, the Kanindé Ethno-environmental Defense Association conducted training for indigenous articulators from the Jiahui, Parintintin, Juma, Karitiana, Karipuna, and Jupaú peoples. This program, part of the ‘Productive Forests’ project, focuses on empowering leaders and youth through training in geotechnology, popular communication, territorial recording, and indigenous rights to ensure autonomous management of their lands.

Simultaneously, the International Seminar on Traditional and Popular Cultures and Climate Justice was held in Chapada dos Veadeiros. Organized by the Ministry of Culture with participation from the Forum of Traditional Communities (FCT) and Fiocruz, the event highlighted ancestral knowledge as a critical tool for global climate justice. Discussions emphasized the importance of intellectual property rights to safeguard traditional knowledge and the necessity of integrating cultural practices into public policies to increase community resilience against environmental crises.