Brazil: Protecting the Yanomami community and forests from illegal mining

The Solutions

To engage Indigenous youth in the political struggle for their forests and future, a qualified group of the neighbouring Munduruku young indigenous leaders will lead a learning exchange to train Yanomami and Ye’kwana young leaders on the use of drones and tablets.

This technology will capture high resolution aerial imagery of deforestation and illegal mining in the Uraricoera macro-region. These images will be used to inform advocacy reports and actions. They will also support Indigenous peoples and campaigners putting pressure on Brazilian authorities to remove illegal invaders, and enforce monitoring and protection of TIY.

By tackling illegal gold mining in TIY, this project contributes to mitigating the global effects of climate change. It also seeks to protect the lives and livelihoods of Yanomami and Ye’kwana Indigenous Peoples whilst engaging the younger generation as future forest defenders. Whilst the project is focused on human rights, we have chosen not to use any photos that could expose identities, due to the security risks involved.

In late January 2023, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva visited Roraima state, pledging to implement an emergency health plan to tackle the humanitarian health and hunger crisis in TIY caused by illegal mining and an investigation into genocide of the Yanomami by the former government. In early February, he signed a decree to launch a police operation to remove the illegal miners. However, political advocacy and land monitoring measures must continue to ensure Yanomami and Ye’kwana lives, land and livelihoods are protected in the long term.