Lula Expands Amazon Indigenous Land Rights in Decree Aimed at Curbing Deforestation

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has signed a decree expanding the demarcation of Indigenous territories in the Amazon, advancing a key campaign pledge and reversing parts of the previous administration’s approach to land policy.

The measure grants additional recognition to lands traditionally occupied by Indigenous communities, strengthening legal protections over areas that have long been contested by ranchers, loggers and other land users. Supporters say the move is an important step toward safeguarding Indigenous rights and slowing deforestation in one of the world’s most critical ecosystems.

Lula’s decision marks a clear break from policies under former President Jair Bolsonaro, whose government was widely criticized by environmental advocates for weakening protections in the Amazon and slowing Indigenous land recognition. The new decree is expected to bolster efforts to preserve forest cover by limiting illegal encroachment and reinforcing the role of Indigenous stewardship in conservation.

Environmental groups welcomed the announcement, calling it a long-overdue correction that could help protect both biodiversity and vulnerable communities. Agribusiness representatives, however, warned that the expansion of protected territories could intensify land-use disputes and restrict economic activity in some regions.

The decree underscores Lula’s broader effort to restore Brazil’s environmental credibility while balancing competing pressures from conservation advocates and the powerful agricultural sector.