Historic isolation has protected tropical forests and an astounding array of endemic Amazon species, but government plans to resurface a controversial, 50-year-old highway will expose this ecosystem to land grabbing, speculation, and extraction of natural resources. This region of high-carbon lowland forests, which are seasonally flooded by tributaries of the upper Amazon, and dry forests support abundant biodiversity and Indigenous communities who have sustainably managed the forests for thousands of years.

Capanā Lake lies at the heart of this Central Amazon Rainforest, surrounded by a mosaic of Indigenous territories. A significant portion of these territorial lands have yet to be mapped and recognized by the government as Indigenous lands. The soon-to-be-resurfaced highway, which has been impassable since 1988, runs along the northern border of the area.

Urgent action must be taken to secure these vulnerable territories as Indigenous owned and managed, giving communities legal recourse to defend their forests. Rainforest Trust and our partner, Centro de Trabalho Indigenista, seek to support the establishment of the 429,823-acre Lago Capanā II Indigenous Territory. The Indigenous communities here have initiated the process with the government to have the boundaries of their territory officially defined, but there is much yet to be done.

Header photo:  Giant Otter, by Slowmotiongli

Save Habitat and Thousands of Species from Highway-related Threats

Among thousands of rainforest species, two species of dolphin, the Endangered Tucuxi and Endangered Amazon River Dolphin, the Vulnerable Amazonian Manatee, and the Endangered Giant Otter live in this isolated aquatic environment, along with many wading birds. The forests are home to Jaguar, Lowland Tapir, Eastern Pygmy Marmoset, White-lipped and Collared Peccaries and Red Brocket. Large tree species found here include Brazil-nut Trees, Big Leaf Mahogany and Rubber Trees, and over 740 species of birds have been recorded in the wider region.

Protect Intact Indigenous Territories in the Brazilian Amazon

Once the legal boundaries of the Mura and Mundurucu territories have been defined and legally declared, commercial-scale logging, extraction and leasing of land to non-Indigenous third parties will be strictly prohibited.

This project reflects a long-term commitment by Rainforest Trust to support Indigenous and traditional communities in the Brazilian Amazon in securing legal land tenure and management rights of their territories. These rights will maintain land-use practices that are compatible with forest conservation. The communities will participate in monitoring and surveillance to protect their territories from environmental crimes.

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