South of Uru Eu Wau Wau Land in Rondonia, indigenous populations continue to produce cassava flour and harvest nuts. Hunting and fishing are impaired as they do not want to move too far from the village. Amondava people living in the region say they are threatened by land invasions and underground units in the root space.
"Of course, there is no point in creating a problem with each other, but if people come to us, we have to defend ourselves," says local Purua Amondava.
Uru Uu Wau Wau Wau Indians Are Threatened by Territorial Invasions – Photo: Reproduction / Amazon
Experts have warned that if the current rate of illegal looting and deforestation continues on the Rondonian root lands, the consequences will be catastrophic. The Uru Eu Wau Wau Forest guarantees the survival of five peoples, two isolated, without any contact with people outside the village, and they depend solely on what the forest offers.
The National Indian Foundation (FUNAI) has reported that many of the plaques that mark the boundaries of the indigenous land have either been uprooted or bullet-marked.
Funai Rielli, an isolated Indian defense front coordinator, Francisco fears confrontation. "There may be two things: one is that the Indians are taking action, they are protecting their territory on their own, and the other is the destruction of some like Uru Ey and Karipuna, which are small groups and can lead to the destruction of these nations, ”he explains.
Cassava flour production is one of the mainstays of living – Photo: Reproduction / Amazon Network
The dense and biodiversity-rich forest, where some of the country's largest rivers are born, is giving way to logging, and roads found by invaders soon lead to large deforested areas. There are even cattle grazing places where there is only a closed forest.
"Being large and difficult to access, it also impedes the work of the supervisory authorities," said Federal Deputy Chief of Police Jose Antonio Simes.
According to the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), two attack zones are occupied by the Rural Association of Rio Bonito, in the municipality of Campo Novo de Rondonia, which leases and markets the areas.
Deforestation area in RO Root Reserve – Photo: Play / Amazon Network
HDavid Queiroz, president of the association, says the occupied area is an old rubber plantation purchased before the indigenous land is homologized and denies the sale of lots but confirms there is a plan for a population of the site.
"At that time I was informed that it was not in any reserve. So I confirmed the purchase of the property. We have concluded a sale and purchase contract without a problem. The intention of the association is to buy and make the area legitimate. We have about 300 people already settled. We have planned at least 2000 people from the beginning, "he says.
The Federal Prosecutor's Office (MPF) has warned that it is not possible to legalize these areas and that people can be deceived.
"Selling is unfair and these areas can never be regulated. The Brazilian legal system does not have the slightest chance of legalizing a batch that is in a local area," concludes lawyer Giselie Bleggy.