In July 2024, Chief Dadá Borari, leader of the Treesistance Forest Guardians program, organized an important training session for the Munduruku Cara Preta and Maytapu communities in Pinhel and Escrivão. These communities, located on the banks of the Tapajós River in Aveiro, a municipality covering 17,158 km² and home to around 15,000 inhabitants, came together to strengthen their defense against external threats to their lands.
The training, attended by over 50 participants, focused on territorial defense, map creation, and fieldwork using mobile phones and GPS cameras. This initiative, supported by members of the Maró Indigenous Territory, is a critical step in safeguarding the region from illegal activities such as mining and deforestation, and large infrastructure projects like the BR-163 highway.
Historical Context: Fordlândia and the Tapajós River
Not far from these communities lies Fordlândia, a failed rubber plantation project funded by Henry Ford from 1927 to 1945. Though the project ultimately failed, it serves as a reminder of external attempts to industrialize the Amazon and the lasting pressures on the region’s natural resources.
A United Front for the Future
With the support of Treesistance, the Munduruku Cara Preta and Maytapu communities are enhancing their ability to protect their land and culture. This training marks a significant step in their ongoing efforts to preserve their territory for future generations, blending modern tools with their ancestral wisdom.
