Communities of Slave Descendants in Brazil Demand Recognition of Territories

December 12, 2025

Afro-descendant quilombo communities in Brazil's Amazon region are advocating for official land titles to protect their territories and traditional ways of life during U.N. climate talks in Belem. These communities, descendants of escaped slaves, use sustainable harvesting techniques like traditional acai berry collection that preserve forests, but face threats from illegal logging, cattle ranching, and industrial projects. Of nearly 2,500 quilombos in the Brazilian Amazon, only 258 have been officially recognized by the government, leaving many vulnerable to land grabs and environmental contamination.

Who is affected

Approximately 500 residents of Itacoa Miri quilombo community
Residents of Menino Jesus quilombo community
Nearly 2,500 quilombo communities in the Brazilian Amazon (only 258 officially mapped)
Erica Monteiro, coordinator at Malungu association and community leader
Fabio Nogueira, vice president of Menino Jesus territory association
Indigenous peoples also pushing for land titles
Members of the National Coordination of Rural Black Communities
Other quilombos being helped through the Malungu association

What action is being taken

Quilombo residents are harvesting acai berries using traditional, minimally invasive techniques
Both quilombo residents and Indigenous peoples are pushing for the government to issue more land titles during the U.N. climate talks
Monteiro is receiving threatening phone calls and facing intimidation attempts
Monteiro is helping other quilombos through Malungu in the process to obtain land titles
The Public Defender's Office has filed a lawsuit on behalf of Menino Jesus community against the landfill
Menino Jesus community is fighting the landfill project
Revita company is trying to set up a landfill near Menino Jesus

Why it matters

This matters because quilombo communities serve as crucial guardians of Amazon rainforest ecosystems through their traditional sustainable practices, yet lack legal protection for their territories. Without official land titles, these communities are vulnerable to land grabs through forged documentation, illegal logging, and encroachment by agribusiness interests. The recognition and protection of these lands is directly tied to climate change mitigation, as these communities actively preserve forests that would otherwise be cleared for cattle ranching or soybean farming. The situation highlights a broader environmental justice issue where communities doing the work of forest conservation face threats and receive little support, while global climate initiatives may not effectively reach those on the frontlines of preservation efforts.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The San Diego Voice & Viewpoint