An uncontacted tribe whose lands are already being heavily invaded is now at risk of total annihilation. The tribe, whose name is unknown, lives in the Ituna Itatá (“Smell of Fire”) Indigenous Territory in the Amazon region of northern Brazil.

Ituna Itatá was the most deforested indigenous territory in the country in 2019, but enjoyed some measure of protection through a Land Protection Order – emergency orders that are used to protect uncontacted tribes’ territories that have not been through the long process of official demarcation. 

But the Order is about to expire, and if it isn’t renewed the whole area is likely to be rapidly destroyed – along with the people who live in it.

Many powerful landowners and politicians are pushing for exactly this, among them the notorious Senator Zequinha Marinho, who’s been lobbying for years to open the territory to commercial exploitation. He has strong links to the mining and ranching industries, and is a close ally of President Bolsonaro.

Beside Ituna Itatá, Land Protection Orders on two other territories of uncontacted tribes in Brazil are also about to expire.

Please email the authorities now to demand they be renewed: