An Indigenous Roadmap for Effective Forest Conservation in Brazil

Grantee: Treesistance

Subgrantee: CITA (Indigenous Council of Tapajós and Arapiuns)

Geographic Focus Brazil, Amazon Basin

Duration: June 2025 – May 2026

About the Project

90% of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is illegal and often in Indigenous territories which are vast and under-protected. Yet, traditionally most efforts to stop it focus on biology or social sciences, overlooking the fact that this is a crime problem. Treesistance is different as it tackles deforestation with crime science and situational crime prevention techniques, empowering Indigenous communities to protect their territories.

JFF is supporting Treesistance to partner with Indigenous territories across the Brazilian states of Pará, Amazonas and Mato Grosso to protect over 1 million hectares of primary rainforest and the Cerrado.

This will include the self-demarcation of 5 territories in the Lower Tapajós region of Pará, the development of access to justice strategies in TI Andira Marau (789,000 Hectares) and TI Pimental Barbosa (329,000 Hectares) and the organisational strengthening of Indigenous leadership / coordination, which is imperative to the long-term success of each territory.

About Treesistance: Treesistance supports 13 Indigenous Forest Guardian groups defending over 1 million hectares of primary rainforest in Brazil, by combining Indigenous leadership with crime science, legal strategy, and targeted funding. In doing so, it deploys a strategic approach to frontline ecosystem protection, led by those with the most at stake and the deepest knowledge of the land. Each programme is built in deep partnership with the communities it serves, resulting in a living ecosystem of protection where communities are resourced, respected, and ready to defend the forest on their own terms.

About CITA: CITA (Indigenous Council of Tapajós and Arapiuns) was founded in 2000 to promote the social, political, economic and cultural well-being of the Indigenous Peoples of the Lower Tapajós region. The organisation directs its efforts on defending its territories, self-demarcation and political action.