The Tlatarim people of southern Amazonas state have filed an official civil action (ACP) against the Brazilian state. The request questions the alleged inaction of public authorities in protecting natural resources and calls for urgent action against deforestation on the lands of the Tlatarim Marmelos indigenous people. Communities are frustrated at having to deal with the effects of environmental degradation.
The targets of the action are the Union, the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (Ibama), the National Indigenous Foundation (Funai), and the Amazonas State Government.
Apitem, who represents the indigenous peoples as the architect of the action, communicated the data he had collected on the deterioration of the ruins. Metropople. The National Institute for Space Research (Impe) found that by 2024, about 4 thousand hectares of forest have already been destroyed, and from 2019 to 2023 only 2.3 thousand hectares were destroyed.
Due to environmental degradation, indigenous peoples say they are suffering impacts such as loss of food resources and traditional incomes, pollution of waterways, and risks to their physical and cultural integrity.
In the process, the Tlatarim Morogita Indigenous Association (Apitem) is asking the court to decide on the implementation of an emergency exclusion plan, i.e. the removal of intruders from the territory. The model for this approach will be similar to that applied to Yanomami and Munduruku indigenous lands.
Apitem also called on governments to implement regional climate governance measures with direct community participation, including afforestation, spring protection, and climate mitigation and adaptation measures.
legal basis
Apitem’s legal part cites the alleged disregard for Article 225 of the Federal Constitution, which provides fundamental environmental rights. “Everyone has the right to an ecologically balanced environment, which is an asset shared by people and essential to a healthy quality of life, placing an obligation on public authorities and communities to protect and preserve the environment for present and future generations,” the excerpt from the CF says.
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Mauricio Terena, Apitem’s lawyer, explained that in the process, the association argues that carbon emissions due to state inaction have negatively affected local communities. One of the data collected is the total emissions of 21,864 tons of CO2 equivalent from 2016 to 2023.
“However, the findings related to violations of the Temerim people and deforestation have a historical trajectory that extends far beyond the past five years. We are working with satellite data and calculators from organizations affiliated with the National Council of Justice (CNJ) that quantify these carbon emissions. We are also asking for compensation calculated in carbon, since the price of carbon is a price in dollars,” Terena says.
answer
Mr. Ihama reported repeated operations against deforestation, mining, and other illegal activities, both in Tlatarim territory and other areas in the region.
“In September, again within the scope of Operation Xapiri Afrikaba, Ibama inspectors dismantled deforestation through selective logging within TI Tlatarim. In this operation, cars, trucks, motorcycles and fuel were rendered unusable,” Ibama said, adding that in 2026, an environmental protection plan will be implemented in accordance with the court’s decision.
The Federal Attorney General’s Office said that no subpoenas or submissions have been made in the aforementioned proceedings because “no statement is possible” regarding the questions raised by the association in the lawsuit.
Funai and the Amazonas state government did not comment.