The role of Indigenous peoples in protecting forests: a case study of the Brazilian Amazon
The role of Indigenous peoples in protecting forests: a case study of the Brazilian Amazon

Summary/Abstract: The article aimed to assess the role of Indigenous peoples in conserv-ing natural resources. It focused on the Amazon, a region inhabited by more than2 million Indigenous people and highly vulnerable to human pressure due to itsmineral and timber wealth. In light of the threats to the ecological balance of thisbiome caused by economic exploitation, the article sought to verify the hypoth-esis that the full protection of natural heritage and effective climate policies areimpossible without the involvement of Indigenous peoples. The discussion beganby identifying the ecosystem services provided by the Amazon to humans and otherliving organisms. Two research questions were posed: (1) What environmentallyrelevant rights are guaranteed to Indigenous peoples under the Brazilian legal sys-tem? and (2) What actions do Indigenous peoples take to protect natural resources?The questions were addressed through institutional-legal analysis and case studies.

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