Guardians of the Amazon, a tribe in the forests sent this message to the Brazilian government to help them protect an uncontacted tribe and their forests from illegal loggers
Members of an Amazon tribe guarding their rainforest reserve to protect uncontacted relatives from illegal loggers recently seized a logging gang, and expelled them from the jungle, according to Survival International, a global organisation for tribals’ rights.
The Guajajara tribe or Guardians of the Amazon say that their method of patrolling, finding the loggers, destroying their equipment has been working. They happen to be patrolling, Arariboia, one of the most threatened region in the entire Amazon. It is also home to an uncontacted group of Awá Indians, who face extinction if faced with the loggers.
The Guardians were forced to protect the tribe because of weak enforcement in spite of laws which are supposed to protect the area.
The organisation got a video of a burning truck loaded with illegally cut timber from the Guardians. “Please show the world the reality we face. We know it’s risky and we have enemies but now’s no time for hiding. We want you to release this to the world so we can continue to protect our forest,” they said fearing violent retaliation. Three of the Guardians were murdered by loggers in 2016, and they have experienced arson attacks and regular death threats, says the organisation.
The Guardians wrote a petition asking the government for support. The organisation has also written to the government calling for the immediate and long-term protection of both the Guardians themselves and of the area they fight to protect. The public can send emails in support of the Guardians to government ministers here.
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There are more than a hundred uncontacted tribes around the world. They are a vitally important part of humankind’s diversity, but they face catastrophe unless their land is protected. Credit:CIAT Amazon2/Flickr.png)
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