Indigenous protesters blocked the entrance to COP30 in Belém, Brazil, criticizing Brazil's new rainforest protection initiatives as insufficient. The demonstrations highlight ongoing exclusion of Indigenous voices from global climate talks. Activists demand greater recognition of their land rights and roles as biodiversity guardians.
On Friday, at least 100 Indigenous protesters blocked the entrance to the 30th United Nations Climate Change Conference, or COP30, in Belém, Brazil. This followed an earlier action where hundreds marched into the venue, clashing with security and pushing through metal detectors to urge negotiators to protect their lands.
Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva stated that Indigenous voices should "inspire" COP30. In response to historical exclusions, the host country announced the Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF), aiming to create financial incentives for preserving tropical forests in up to 74 countries. The TFFF, hosted by the World Bank, seeks $25 billion in investments to grow into a $125 billion fund. Governments receive payments if their deforestation rate stays at or below 0.5 percent annually, with 20 percent of funds passed to Indigenous and local communities.
Proponents like Toerris Jaeger, director of the Rainforest Foundation Norway, praised the initiative: "tropical forests and rainforests as the global public good that they are... need to be maintained standing and that is what TFFF does." However, critics argue it commodifies ecosystems. Toya Manchineri, general coordinator of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon, said, "You cannot put a price on a conserved forest because life cannot be measured, and the Amazon is life for the thousands of beings who inhabit it and depend on it to exist." He noted the 20 percent allocation is a start but insufficient, emphasizing Indigenous authority in climate protection.
Mary Lou Malig of the Global Forest Coalition called TFFF "another false solution to the planetary crises of biodiversity loss, forest loss, and climate collapse," profiting from problems created by banks and corporations. The plan's payouts depend on market performance, introducing uncertainty.
Brazil also joined the Intergovernmental Land Tenure Commitment (ILTC) with nine other countries, backed by a $1.8 billion pledge to recognize Indigenous land rights. Juan Carlos Jintiach of the Global Alliance of Territorial Communities welcomed it but stressed the need for monitoring. Zimyl Adler of Friends of the Earth U.S. asserted, "We cannot have climate adaptation, climate mitigation, or climate justice without territorial land rights and the recognition and demarcation of Indigenous territory."
A recent report on Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) from 85 countries found only 20 referenced Indigenous rights, with just five mentioning Free, Prior, and Informed Consent. Kate Dooley of the University of Melbourne called this a "real missed opportunity."
Protester Cacique Gilson, a Tupinmbá leader, declared, "We don’t eat money. We want our territory free," amid ongoing threats from oil, mining, and logging. Background context includes Brazil's deforestation history: 13 percent of the original Amazon lost, 70 percent for cattle pastures, as the world's top beef and soy exporter to China.
With COP30 ongoing, these protests question whether talks will yield action for Indigenous communities facing deforestation and weak land rights.