The climate emergency brought the unimaginable to life in 2024. In the Amazon, rivers that once stretched for kilometers were reduced to narrow trickles, profoundly altering the lives of people and ecosystems in ways beyond calculation. This historic drought was accompanied by fires across several municipalities in the state, leaving the air unbreathable.
In Mato Grosso, the fires swept across all biomes—the Amazon Forest, the Cerrado (tropical savanna), and the Pantanal (the world’s largest tropical wetland and largest flooded grasslands). The altered climate, which intensified the natural impacts of El Niño and La Niña, had dramatic consequences for countless lives and inflicted severe damage on economies, particularly the food sector, undermining both planting and production quality.
Amid this scenario of climate change and disputes over development models, Indigenous peoples find themselves in a paradoxical position. While their ways of life directly support environmental conservation, they also suffer immediately and profoundly from the consequences of environmental impacts. In times of crisis, Indigenous peoples are at the forefront of preserving biodiversity and helping to regulate the planet’s temperature, even as they remain among the most affected by the advance of global warming.
Confronted by ongoing violations such as deforestation, land invasions, and mining, nature’s principal guardians witness political forces in constant conflict across the executive, legislative, and judicial branches, leading to significant setbacks in legislation and environmental protection programs.
Yet, Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and allies continue to stand together, ensuring that pressures and threats do not overshadow their collective political struggle or their constitutional rights. In this spirit, a range of initiatives has taken shape, seeking to build promising pathways toward the common good.
In this report, we highlight the life projects of Indigenous peoples from Amazonas and Mato Grosso, along with their tireless efforts to ensure the well-being of their families and safeguard their territories. Their work advances sustainable economies and strengthens ongoing initiatives that secure effective public policies.
These activities are supported by OPAN, an Indigenous institution with 56 years of experience, currently organized into three institutional programs: Amazonas, Mato Grosso, and Indigenous Rights, Indigenous Policy, and Information to Society.
Enjoy the read!