Mining requests in Brazil’s indigenous lands finally removed, but the battle continues

Abstract

Mining causes intense socio-environmental impacts and threatens Indigenous peoples in Brazil, exposing them to violence, contagious diseases, mercury contamination, and loss of livelihoods. Recent collaborative efforts by society achieved positive advances against mining in Indigenous Lands (ILs). Notably, the National Mining Agency (ANM) has revoked thousands of mining requests that encroached upon ILs for decades, marking a historic but underpublicized milestone. However, in recent months, the National Congress has approved a series of counter-attacks against Indigenous rights. Despite these advancements, it is imperative for society to sustain pressure in combating illegal mining in ILs and the ongoing attacks by ruralist and mining groups, who have a long history of undermining Indigenous rights.