A UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in Paraguay, inhabited by an uncontacted tribe is being bulldozed by Brazilian cattle ranchers.
A government representative and two relatives of the tribe have tried to enter the region, but personnel from the ranchers company, Yaguarete Pora S.A, barred them.
The reserve, in the Chaco region in Paraguay, is home to the only uncontacted tribe in South America outside of the Amazon, the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode.
The reserve is being destroyed despite UNESCO’s objective to protect the Ayoreo-Totobiegosode, including the recovery, legalization and return of the land to these native people. . . (It) helps to protect local indigenous communities homeland and cultural identity.
The reserve also aims to protect “flagship species” like the jaguar – an irony given that a Spanish language translation of that word, yaguarete, is the name of the company bulldozing the reserve.
Satellite photos show that thousands of hectares of the reserve have been destroyed, despite Yaguarete Pora having its license to work there withdrawn by the government.
The Chaco Biosphere Reserve was created in 2005. The general aim of these reserves, created under UNESCO’s “Man and the Biosphere Program”, is to “innovate and demonstrate approaches to conservation and sustainable development.”
Survival Director, Stephen Corry, said today, “The Totobiegosode’s land is being destroyed as we speak. Given that their land falls within a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, we hope that UNESCO can play a part in stopping this destruction and pressing for the recognition of their land rights.”
Act now to help the Ayoreo
Write a letter to the Paraguayan parliament using Survival’s online letter-writing tool.
Donate to the Ayoreo campaign (and other Survival campaigns).
Write a letter to your MP or MEP (UK).
Write to the President, your senators, congressmen or other elected officials (US).
Write to your local Paraguayan embassy (you can find their address through embassiesabroad.com)
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
“Yaguarete” is not a portuguese name. So I think it’s a multinacional company. But cattle ranchers are destroying a lot of brasilian lands, as the Taim region, south Brazil, a preserved (should be) area.
Hot piercings! If we did that, we’d certainly have more peace!
Yuaguarete is a word from the indigenous language Guarani – It’s their name for the big cat, the Jaguar – It means: ‘the real fierce beast’.
http://www.amazon-secret.com/show.asp?m=2502
Thank you!
But I insist: look South too