Dying for Arariboia

In Brazil’s Arariboia Indigenous Territory, the Guajajara people and uncontacted Awá have been subjected to violence and land grabbing. This Mongabay series reveals a pattern of targeted killings amid a surge of illegal cattle ranching and logging in and around Arariboia, fueling conflict and exposing failures in enforcement and land protection policy. Symbolizing these issues is the years-long wait for justice in the 2019 killing of forest guardian Paulo Paulino Guajajara, a case seen as pivotal to ending impunity for violence against Indigenous environmental defenders. Through field reporting, analysis of satellite data and hundreds of documents, the series profiles an Indigenous community committed to protecting its territory from environmental crime.

After 6 years, trial in Indigenous forest guardian killing pushed to 2026

Brazil’s Arariboia set to be the first Indigenous land with legal cattle

Mongabay investigation spurs Brazil crackdown on illegal cattle in Amazon’s Arariboia territory

‘Five years and no justice’ as trial over Indigenous forest guardian’s killing faces delays

Revealed: Illegal cattle ranching booms in Arariboia territory during deadly year for Indigenous Guajajara

Mongabay video screening at Chile’s Supreme Court expected to help landmark verdict in Brazil

End of impunity for Indigenous killings in sight for Brazil’s Guajajara

The trial that could change the fate of the Guajajara

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