At COP30 in Belém, Brazil, indigenous peoples and local communities called for stronger protection of tropical forests, recognition of territorial rights, and direct access to climate finance. Their demands followed a report by the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) and Earth Insight that maps where industrial extraction threatens forests and the people who live in them.
The report shows extractive industries are encroaching on the Amazon, the Congo Basin, Mesoamerica, and Southeast Asia. In Mesoamerica, oil and gas projects threaten 3.7 million hectares of indigenous and community lands, and mining concessions cover 18.7 million hectares. The report also links these pressures to deforestation, drug trafficking, infrastructure megaprojects, and weak governance in countries such as Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Difficult words
- indigenous — Native or original people from a place.
- gather — To come together in one place.gathering
- demand — To ask for something strongly.
- recognition — Acknowledgment of rights or status.
- rights — Legal entitlements or freedoms.
- protect — To keep safe from harm.
- governance — The way a community is managed.
- decisions — Choices made after consideration.
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Why do you think land rights are important for indigenous peoples?
- How do you think climate finance can help communities?
- What role should indigenous leaders play in governance?
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