15-Year Partnership Launched to Strengthen Indigenous Guardianship in the Brazilian Amazon

The Greater Tumucumaque Program will last 15 years, contributing to territorial protection, biodiversity monitoring, and tackling the climate crisis.

On November 8th, Indigenous Peoples from the Greater Tumucumaque region in the northern Brazilian Amazon welcomed partners and guests for the launch of the Greater Tumucumaque Program, a 15-year partnership between the Iepé - Institute for Research and Indigenous Training, the Amazon Institute of People and the Environment (Imazon), co-funded by Nia Tero and the Legacy Landscapes Fund (LLF).

The Greater Tumucumaque is located in the north of Pará state and is part of the Guiana Shield. Together with other protected areas, it forms the largest interconnected block of protected tropical forests in the world. It is one of the world’s most megadiverse regions and home to numerous endangered species in addition to various Indigenous groups, including Indigenous Peoples in voluntary isolation.

The program will contribute to effective landscape management, bolstering climate resilience efforts, protecting vulnerable wildlife species, and supporting Indigenous communities in managing their lands sustainably and effectively.

“The Greater Tumucumaque Program brings together several partners, but the most important aspect of the Program is the focus on the self-determination of Indigenous Peoples. It is essential that they are autonomous protagonists of their struggles. We are not just talking about forests, but about the people and biodiversity that live within them. The Greater Tumucumaque Program prepares for today, but also looks to the future,” said Nara Baré (Baré People), Nia Tero’s Brazil Representative.

The Program will support the Indigenous Peoples of the Tumucumaque Indigenous Park and Rio Paru d’Este Indigenous lands, home to the Apalai, Wayana, Tirio, and Kaxuyana Peoples, whose wisdom, practices, and self-determination have led to the protection of one of the largest corridors of tropical forest in the world.

“The Program represents hope for us and our territory. The 15-year duration indicates that our demands will have time to be met. It is gratifying for us to count on this support,” said Arinaware Apalai Wayana, president of Apiwa (Association of Wayana and Apalai Indigenous Peoples).

The long-term duration of the program will enable a powerful collaboration between Indigenous Peoples and state and federal protected area agencies to promote the effective management of this precious region for generations to come.

“Iepé has been working in partnership with Indigenous organizations for over two decades. Over the next 15 years, we will continue to implement the Territorial and Environmental Management Plans (PGTAs), developed by these peoples. In this way, we hope to contribute to the well-being of future generations together. Year after year, the PGTAs are consolidated as tools for new achievements and new partnerships,” said Denise Fajardo, coordinator of the Tumucumaque-Wayamu Program at Iepé .

More about the Greater Tumucumaque

The Greater Tumucumaque is located in the north of Pará state, along the border between Brazil, French Guiana, and Suriname. The area encompasses two protected areas (the Maicuru State Biological Reserve and the Grão Pará State Ecological Station) and three Indigenous lands (Tumucumaque Indigenous Park, Rio Paru d'Este, and Zo'é).

In total, the region covers more than 103,000 km², an area larger than the size of Portugal, making it one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and home to several endangered and endemic species (those that only occur in a specific location). Protection of this landscape is essential for the sustained health of the Amazon rainforest and for meeting global biodiversity conservation goals.

"Due to its territorial extension forest, the Greater Tumucumaque region is of extreme national and international importance for climate balance, as it functions as a large carbon sink. (...) It is considered a 'center of endemism', which reinforces the need for actions focused on monitoring and conserving the region's biodiversity,” explained Jakeline Pereira, researcher and director of Imazon's Protected Areas Program.

Launch Event for the Greater Tumucumaque Program

The Program's launch took place on November 8, 2024, in the city of Santarém. Indigenous Peoples performed cultural presentations and joined a panel discussion with representatives from the organizations involved: Apitikaxi, Apiwa, Iepé, Imazon, Ideflor-Bio, Funai, Nia Tero, and LLF.

“This Program is a historic achievement. For 20 years, Apitikatxi has sought out partnerships and resources. It has been a long road, and we have worked hard to get here. This 15-year program will support the implementation of our PGTA and many good things will come out of it,” said Aventino Tiriyó Kaxuyana, president of Apitikatxi (Association of the Tiriyó, Kaxuyana and Txikiyana Indigenous Peoples).

"It is thanks to the good work of our Indigenous partners that have protected their land and kept their culture strong that the Tumucumaque was selected as a global priority for support from Nia Tero and the German Government. We are so grateful to the Indigenous leaders, the women, and the youth who protect their territories," said Nara Baré.