Amazon deforestation cut by 83% in places protected by Indigenous communities – new research
Amazon deforestation cut by 83% in places protected by Indigenous communities – new research
https://theconversation.com/amazon-deforestation-cut-by-83-in-places-protected-by-indigenous-communities-new-research-234433
To reduce deforestation and boost biodiversity to help address climate change, returning lands to Indigenous communities is crucial and effective.
Although deforestation rates in the Brazilian Amazon have halved, it is still losing more than 5,000km² every year. That’s an area three times larger than Greater London.
By combining satellite imagery for the entire Amazon region with data from the Brazilian national census, our new study found that deforestation in areas protected by Indigenous communities was up to 83% lower compared to unprotected areas. These results show that Indigenous communities can play an important environmental stewardship role by helping to prevent deforestation by people encroaching on their lands.