The Xingu Indigenous Territory (TIX) covers 26,420km² and comprises three ecologically important biomes: rainforest, transition forest and cerrado savannah. The TIX’s indigenous communities and biodiversity are severely threatened by wildfires. Illegal fires are being set to clear forest for agriculture outside the reserve and sickeningly even with the intention to intimidate indigenous communities. These grow into wildfires, which then spread into the indigenous territory. Climate change has made the dry season hotter, drier and longer, hence wildfires are increasing in frequency and intensity.
The Upper Xingu indigenous brigade was formed to fight these fires, protecting their communities and ancestral forests. The brigade are all volunteers; without their efforts, the lives of their communities would be destroyed.
Our partnership will properly equip the firefighters and support their Fire Season logistics and expansion, helping them to protect the 3,300 indigenous people that live in the Xingu communities, the forest and savannah they live in, and the many rare and endemic species the TIX contains.
Read more about our work with the Xingu Indigenous Firefighters here