Advancing Indigenous Rights

The Amazon rainforest is home to nearly 400 distinct indigenous groups. These peoples depend on the Amazon rainforest for their physical and cultural survival, and have been its steward for millennia. Amazon Watch works in long-term partnership with indigenous communities and environmental organizations to strengthen their capacity to advocate for their rights and protect rainforest territories. More »

The Privilege of Working with Indigenous Rainforest Guardians

Part II

October 13, 2011 | Blog Post

An important example of Amazonian indigenous leadership with respect to the environment is its contribution to the Rights of Nature movement.More »

The Privilege of Working with Indigenous Rainforest Guardians

Part I

October 12, 2011 | Blog Post

In honor of Indigenous Peoples Day, I'd like to tell you about the real rainforest guardians – the indigenous peoples who call the Amazon their home.More »

Stop the Colombia Free Trade Agreement!

October 10, 2011 | Blog Post

Is it ironic or supremely appropriate that this Columbus Day the U.S. Congress will vote on a free trade agreement that has been called "a serious threat against the indigenous peoples that inhabit Colombian territory"?More »

The Unconquered: In Search of the Amazon's Last Uncontacted Tribes

Amazon Watch recommends this new book by Scott Wallace

October 6, 2011 | Blog Post

Amazon Watch recommends The Unconquered, a new book by Scott Wallace that tells the extraordinary tale of a journey deep into the Amazon to track one of the planet's last uncontacted indigenous tribes.More »

Update on the Situation in Bolivia

September 29, 2011 | Blog Post

Over 3,000 people have already sent letters of concern to the Bolivian authorities over repression carried out by the police against TIPNIS protesters while they were marching to La Paz.More »

Amazon Watch: Standing with Indigenous Peoples, Defending the Rainforest

September 29, 2011 | Video

For over 15 years, Amazon Watch has stood with the indigenous peoples of the Amazon Basin.More »

Tell Bolivia: Stop the Repression, Respect Indigenous Rights

September 28, 2011 | Blog Post

A protest march by Bolivian indigenous peoples turned violent on Sunday as 500 Bolivian police tear-gassed, fired upon with rubber bullets, and beat protesters.More »

High Hopes for Peru Consultation Law, Few Promises

September 28, 2011 | Reuters

Lima, Peru – A law that Peru's indigenous leaders fought for two years to get passed and the government says could end strife over natural resources may not resolve conflicts as hoped when it goes into effect in January.More »

Bolivian Road Project Pits Indigenous Groups Against President Morales

September 28, 2011 | CNN

Bolivian indigenous leaders vow to keep fighting a road project through a national park on their ancestral homeland even though President Evo Morales said he would suspend construction pending a national dialogue.More »

Amazon in Focus 2011

A Year in the Struggle to Defend the Amazon

Fall 2011 | Report

Defending the Amazon is a defining battle of our time and has the potential to shift the balance towards justice, ecological balance and the recognition of our interdependence on nature and living systems. In this year's Amazon in Focus, we share stories from this struggle.More »