Belém: Indigenous leaders from across the Andes and Amazon have arrived in Belém ahead of the COP30 climate summit, carrying a strong message for world leaders – protect Indigenous lands, respect their voices, and stop the exploitation of the world’s largest rainforest.
Their journey was not just symbolic but deeply spiritual. The delegation traveled by river and road from the glacier peaks of the Andes to the heart of the Amazon Basin, highlighting how climate change connects these fragile ecosystems. Melting glaciers in the Andes feed the Amazon’s mighty rivers, yet both regions are now under severe environmental stress due to mining, oil drilling, and deforestation.
At least 17 percent of Indigenous territories across the Amazon are already threatened by extractive industries. These communities, who have protected the rainforest for centuries, are now demanding recognition of their rights and direct participation in global climate decisions.
“We are not just victims of climate change. We are protectors of life,” said one of the Indigenous representatives upon reaching Belém. The group’s arrival was marked by cultural ceremonies, prayers, and symbolic rituals, including a traditional water blessing and a “funeral for fossil fuels” held earlier in Ecuador.
The leaders are expected to present a formal declaration to COP30 negotiators. Their main demands include legal protection for Indigenous territories, a ban on extractive industries in the Amazon, direct climate funding for Indigenous communities, and the inclusion of Indigenous knowledge in global climate strategies.
This year’s COP30 is especially significant because it is taking place in Belém, in the heart of the Amazon. The Brazilian government, under President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, has promised to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable development.
However, environmental groups and Indigenous representatives remain cautious, pointing out that powerful economic interests in mining and agribusiness still threaten the region.
More than 3,000 Indigenous delegates from Latin America, Africa, and Asia are attending COP30, making it one of the largest Indigenous gatherings ever at a UN climate summit. Their presence is a reminder that the future of the planet’s forests and climate stability depends on those who live closest to nature.
As young Indigenous activists raise their voices alongside their elders, they bring both pain and hope to the discussions. “We inherit the strength and the wounds of the Amazon,” said one young delegate from Peru. “We are here to make sure the world listens before it is too late.”
As the climate summit unfolds, Indigenous groups are urging leaders to match their words with real action. Their message is clear: protecting the Amazon and its people is not just an environmental goal it is essential for the survival of humanity.