What are Brazil's quilombos and why are they important?

Quilombos are communities of Afro-Brazilian descendants of runaway slaves, vital for preserving traditional practices and protecting the Amazon rainforest.

How does acai harvesting help the environment in Brazil?

Traditional, low-impact acai harvesting techniques used by quilombos help keep Amazon forests standing and intact.

What threats do quilombo communities face in Brazil?

Quilombos face threats from illegal logging, land invasion for agribusiness, and proposed landfills that risk contaminating their environment.

Home / Environment / Forest Guardians: Quilombos Fight for Land & Amazon

Forest Guardians: Quilombos Fight for Land & Amazon

20 Nov, 2025

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Summary

Quilombos use traditional acai harvesting, protecting Amazonian forests.
They demand land titles to defend rights against illegal logging.
Some communities face threats from landfills and agribusiness.

Forest Guardians: Quilombos Fight for Land & Amazon

Descendants of runaway slaves in Brazil's quilombos are using traditional, minimally invasive acai harvesting techniques to help preserve the Amazon rainforest. These communities, like Itacoa-Miri, understand that protecting the forest is vital for their own survival and way of life.

Pushing for official land titles is central to their fight, as recognized ownership is seen as the primary defense against illegal logging and land invasions for large-scale agriculture. Many quilombos have yet to be officially mapped, leaving them vulnerable.

Despite progress for some, other communities like Menino Jesus are battling threats of contamination from proposed landfills, underscoring the ongoing struggle for secure land rights and environmental protection in the region.

Disclaimer: This story has been auto-aggregated and auto-summarised by a computer program. This story has not been edited or created by the Feedzop team.