Ten Victories and Challenges to Indigenous Rights in 2024

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From Brazil’s action against illegal gold miners to the Sacred Headwaters Alliance defending the Amazon, these top Indigenous stories of 2024 highlight resilience and challenges. The year of 2024 underscored the importance of Indigenous sovereignty in tackling environmental and social issues. #IndigenousRights #LandBack

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Abulu, L. (2024, December 23). The 10 Indigenous news stories that marked 2024. Mongabay. Retrieved from https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/the-10-indigenous-news-stories-that-marked-2024/

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2024 was a critical year for Indigenous peoples worldwide, marked by significant victories, challenges, and advocacy for land rights and biodiversity conservation. Here are Mongabay’s top Indigenous news stories of the year:

1. Brazil Prepares to Halt Illegal Mining in Munduruku Territory

Brazil began operations to remove illegal miners from Munduruku land, addressing mercury contamination and environmental destruction caused by gold mining.

2. Water Defender Fights for Yaqui Sacred River Amid Mexico’s Heatwave

Mario Luna Romero continues to fight for the Yaqui River, a sacred water source drained by overexploitation and agrochemical pollution. Despite threats and imprisonment, his advocacy persists.

3. Indigenous Rights Violations in Nepal’s Hydropower Projects

Yak herders in Nepal exposed false claims and fabricated signatures by hydropower companies, leading to legal battles over biocultural landscapes.

4. Land Grabs in the DRC Amid Conflict

Indigenous Twa communities in the DRC accused a mining company of acquiring land without proper consultation, exacerbating land disputes under the shadow of regional conflict.

5. Historic Batwa Land Rights Ruling in Africa

The African Commission ruled the Batwa people’s eviction from Kahuzi-Biega National Park a human rights violation, calling for compensation and a return to ancestral lands.

6. Land Rights Conflicts in Cambodia’s Keo Seima REDD+ Project

Indigenous communities in Cambodia faced arrests, land disputes, and destruction of customary lands tied to REDD+ carbon credit projects, raising questions about its efficacy.

7. Do Indigenous Peoples Conserve 80% of Biodiversity?

A controversial study questioned the claim that Indigenous peoples protect 80% of global biodiversity, sparking debate about the validity of the statistic and its implications.

8. Illegal Cattle Boom in Brazil’s Arariboia Territory

Illegal ranching expanded in Arariboia, causing deforestation and violence, with 2023 marking the deadliest year for Indigenous Guajajara people in recent history.

9. False UN Backing Persuades Forest Rights Cession in Latin America

Companies falsely claiming UN endorsement persuaded Indigenous communities in Peru, Bolivia, and Panama to cede forest rights, affecting over 9.5 million hectares.

10. Drug Routes Expand Violence in Peru’s Indigenous Communities

Illicit airstrips linked to coca cultivation in Peru’s Ucayali region have increased violence and deforestation, impacting Indigenous reserves.

Bonus Story: Brazil’s President Lula Recognises 13 Indigenous Lands

Brazil’s President Lula approved 13 Indigenous territories since taking office, advancing efforts to combat deforestation and strengthen Indigenous sovereignty.

These stories reflect the resilience and leadership of Indigenous peoples in the face of environmental and social challenges.

Read the full article on Mongabay: Original Article.

Abulu, L. (2024, December 23). The 10 Indigenous news stories that marked 2024. Mongabay. Retrieved from https://news.mongabay.com/2024/12/the-10-indigenous-news-stories-that-marked-2024/

ENDS

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