Hours after taking office, Brazils new president, Jair Bolsonaro, has launched an assault on environmental and Amazon protections with an executive order transferring the regulation and creation of new indigenous reserves to the agriculture ministry which is controlled by the powerful agribusiness lobby.
The move sparked outcry from indigenous leaders, who said it threatened their reserves, which make up about 13% of Brazilian territory, and marked a symbolic concession to farming interests at a time when deforestation is rising again.
There will be an increase in deforestation and violence against indigenous people, said Dinaman Tuxá, the executive coordinator of the Articulation of Indigenous People of Brazil (Apib). Indigenous people are defenders and protectors of the environment.
Sonia Guajajara, an indigenous leader who stood as vice-presidential candidate for the Socialism and Freedom party (PSOL) tweeted her opposition. The dismantling has already begun, she posted on Tuesday.