SAO PAULO (AP) — President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on Thursday announced the creation of two new Indigenous territories for Brazil, bringing the total number of new reserves during this term to 10.
The Cacique Fontoura reserve will be in Mato Grosso state and the Aldeia Velha territory will be in Bahia state. They will cover a combined total area of almost 132 square miles (342 square kilometers).
Speaking at a ceremony in Brasilia, Lula’s said Indigenous peoples should be patient as he seeks to fulfill his pledge of creating 14 new territories.
Lula’s predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, had encouraged widespread development of the Amazon — both legal and illegal — and made good on his pledge to not demarcate a single centimeter of additional Indigenous land.
Lula took office in 2023 pledging to change that, but Indigenous rights activists hoped he would move faster. Last year, he demarcated six territories in April and two more in September.
Possible TikTok ban revived as part of House foreign aid package
Michael Douglas, 79, reveals the moment he realised his wife Catherine Zeta
Harry Styles and Niall Horan soak up the action at The Masters with the Love on Tour star watching 6
Kristin Smart's murderer Paul Flores is stabbed in California jail
Afghan migrant on terror watch list spent a YEAR in the U.S. after he was released by Border Patrol
Teresa Urquijo, 28, granddaughter of Princess Teresa of Bourbon
Quentin Tarantino SCRAPS plans for his final film The Movie Critic which had Brad Pitt set to star
US carries out first airdrop of aid into Gaza