Brazil creates new Indigenous territories
- Context: Brazil, during COP30 at Belém, officially created 10 new Indigenous Territories, expanding protected areas amid ongoing protests demanding land demarcation.

- About Brazil creates new Indigenous territories:
- What is this decision?
- Brazil designated 10 new Indigenous Territories through a presidential decree, granting them legal protection for culture, land rights, forests, and biodiversity.
Indigenous territories together now cover 117.4 million hectares (~13.8% of Brazil’s land area), roughly the size of Colombia.
- Brazil designated 10 new Indigenous Territories through a presidential decree, granting them legal protection for culture, land rights, forests, and biodiversity.
- Why was it done?
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- Climate Action at COP30: Indigenous lands protect 82% of global biodiversity; demarcation reduces deforestation by up to 20% and carbon emissions by 26% by 2030.
- Violence & Land Invasion: Sharp increase in attacks by illegal miners, loggers, cattle ranchers.
- Tribes/Peoples Associated with the New Territories: Mura, Tupinambá de Olivença, Pataxó, Guarani-Kaiowá, Munduruku, Pankará, and Guarani-Mbya
- About Brazil:
- What is Brazil?
- Brazil is the largest country in South America, the 5th largest in the world, occupying nearly half of the South American continent.
- Neighbouring Nations:
- Brazil borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
- Bordering countries: Uruguay, Argentina, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
- Capital: Brasília
- Major Physiographic Features:
- Amazon Lowlands:
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- World’s largest river system & most extensive virgin rainforest.
- Dominated by terra firme forests, várzeas (floodplains), wetlands, and oxbow lakes.
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- Brazilian Highlands (Panalto Central):
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- Covers half the country; rich in minerals.
- Includes Serra do Mar, Serra da Mantiqueira, Serra do Espinhaço.
- Elevations up to ~2,900 m (Agulhas Negras, Bandeira Peak).
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- Guiana Highlands:
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- Shared with Venezuela, Guyana, Suriname.
- Highest peak: Pico da Neblina (3,014 m).
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- Pantanal Wetlands:
- World’s largest freshwater wetland, ~140,000 sq km.
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- Seasonal flooding from upper Paraguay River.
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