Indigenous organizations in Brazil’s Para state are up in arms after the government signed a $180 million carbon credit agreement without their knowledge or consent. The controversial deal, involving multinational giants like Amazon.com Inc and the Walmart Foundation, aims to curb deforestation in the Amazon, yet the people who have safeguarded these forests for generations were left out of the conversation.
The agreement, brokered through the LEAF Coalition, was touted as a groundbreaking move for conservation, but Indigenous leaders are demanding answers. In a fiery public letter signed by 38 Indigenous and community groups, they condemned Para Governor Helder Barbalho for bypassing them in the decision-making process.
Alessandra Korap Munduruku, a prominent Indigenous leader and author of the letter, expressed outrage over the government’s handling of the deal. “Our leaders were never consulted on the carbon credits,” she said. “We are being sold like goods.”
The communities argue that they, as the guardians of the Amazon, should have a decisive role in any environmental agreements. “Forest peoples must be heard and consulted. Our territories are not for sale,” they wrote, demanding that the government respect their rights and ensure that the funds from the carbon credits truly benefit Indigenous communities and family farms.
The involvement of U.S.-based companies like Amazon and Walmart in the deal has also raised concerns. Munduruku criticized these corporations for profiting from the sale of carbon credits tied to their land, while the communities face threats from illegal mining and other environmental hazards.
“Our priority is the eviction of invaders on our reservation lands,” Munduruku told Reuters, emphasizing that without addressing these pressing issues, the carbon credit deal does little to protect their way of life.
The carbon credit deal is LEAF Coalition’s first in the Amazon, a region crucial to global efforts in the fight against climate change. The agreement involves purchasing up to 12 million tons of carbon credits between 2023 and 2026, representing a reduction in deforestation. However, the legitimacy of the project is now being questioned by the very communities it impacts.
Governor Barbalho defended the agreement, claiming that Indigenous groups would benefit from the proceeds, but tensions continue to rise as the government faces increasing pressure to include Indigenous voices in climate decisions.
With the UN COP30 climate summit set to take place in Para next year, Brazil’s handling of this issue could have far-reaching implications for the nation’s environmental policies and global standing.