In the depths of Brazil's vast Amazon rainforest, communities that have lived in harmony with nature for generations are now fighting to protect both their way of life and the forest itself. Known as Brazil’s Traditional Peoples and Communities, they’re often overlooked in global climate conversations — yet they are essential to the survival of both people and planet.
Brazil officially recognizes 28 groups under the umbrella of Traditional Peoples and Communities. These include the more widely known Indigenous peoples, Quilombolas, and Ribeirinhos (also known as Riverside People or Riverines), as well as lesser-known communities like the Caiçaras, Babaçu coconut breakers, Rubber Tappers, and Andirobeiros.
Though culturally diverse, these communities are united by a shared commitment to sustainability. They depend on their land and natural resources not just for survival, but for cultural continuity, community resilience, and a deep sense of identity — all rooted in knowledge passed down through generations of resistance.
Their continued presence is vital to preserving biodiversity. They are the forest’s natural guardians, and their stewardship is essential to climate regulation and ecological balance.
Indigenous peoples play a vital role in protecting the Amazon. Now, let’s shine a light on two of the other key guardians of the Amazon: the Quilombolas and Ribeirinhos.
Who Are the Quilombolas?
A woman stands at her home at Maria Joaquina "Quilombo" in Cabo Frio, Brazil, July 12, 2020.
Quilombolas are descendants of Africans who escaped enslavement and founded free, self-governing communities. Through courage and resilience, they transformed from enslaved individuals into self-sustaining people living off the land. Their identity, grounded in ancestral pride and collective resistance, has been shaped by centuries of struggle. Today, more than 1.3 million Quilombolas live in Brazil. Unlike most Brazilians, six out of ten remain in rural areas, maintaining a deep connection to the lands that sustained their ancestors. In the Legal Amazon region, more than 426,000 Quilombolas call the region home.
Their land rights are enshrined in Brazil’s 1988 Constitution and reinforced by international frameworks like ILO Convention 169.
And Who Are the Ribeirinhos?
A man trails a dog in Lago Serrado community, near Carauari, Brazil, Sept. 1, 2022. A Brazilian non-profit created a model for land ownership that welcomes both local people and scientists to collaborate in preserving the Amazon.
The Ribeirinhos are riverbank communities whose lives flow with the rhythms of the water. They rely on the Amazon’s rivers for transportation, food, and survival.
Many are descendants of migrants from northeast Brazil, who arrived in the Amazon during the rubber boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. They learned from Indigenous communities how to live in harmony with the forest, drawing only what they need and giving back through stewardship. Today, the rivers are their lifelines — their roads, their food, and water source. Their stilt homes rise above floodwaters, a simple but ingenious adaptation to the region’s seasonal extremes.
Why Traditional Guardians Matter to Everyone
The lives of the Quilombolas, Ribeirinhos, and other guardian peoples may seem worlds apart from fast-paced cities or tech-driven societies, but their role is deeply tied to the planet’s future — and increasingly recognized within Brazil’s emerging socio-bioeconomy (models rooted in local traditions and ecological knowledge). These communities are living proof that it's possible to protect nature while sustaining a way of life.
Traditional territories are among the best-preserved ecosystems in Brazil. Between 1985 and 2022, Quilombola lands lost just 4.7% of their native vegetation — compared to 19.9% loss on privately owned land over the same period. This difference is no accident; it reflects ancestral practices that view the forest not as a resource to exploit, but a home to steward.
In the state of Pará, the Terra do Meio network supports the fair trade of sustainable forest products like Brazil nuts and babaçu oil, generating income for Ribeirinho and Indigenous communities while keeping the forest intact. These efforts show that socio-bioeconomies are not just possible, but vital.
The Threats They Face
Despite their vital role in protecting the environment, these communities face constant threats.
One of the most urgent threats is the "Devastation Bill" (Bill 2.159), which today jeopardizes 97% of Quilombola territories. If passed, it would eliminate environmental licensing requirements for major development projects — allowing companies to bypass consultations, impact assessments, and compensations entirely.
Even without new legislation, the process of officially recognizing land rights remains painfully slow. Of the 1,899 land titling cases currently open, only 268 Quilombola lands have been formally titled. Of these processes, 44% of the remaining claims have been pending for more than a decade. Without land titles, communities lack legal protection — and access to essential public services.
The threats aren’t only legal. Near Belém, where COP30 is set to take place, at least five Quilombola communities in Barcarena face severe industrial pollution. Contaminated water, government neglect, and the absence of land rights have left them vulnerable. "Water is life, and we don't have water to drink," says Maria do Socorro, a leader from the Quilombola Burajuba community.
Surrounded by houses the lake in Carauari city is seen during sunrise, Amazonia, Brazil, Sept. 1, 2022. Along the Jurua River, a tributary of the Amazon, riverine settlers and Indigenous villages are working together to promote the sustainable fishing of near magic fish called pirarucu.
Across the Amazon, agribusiness remains the leading driver of deforestation — accounting for over 80% of forest loss. Illegal mining adds another layer of devastation. In Amapá state, the collapse of a mining dam contaminated local rivers, leaving 4,000 Ribeirinhos food insecure and forced to choose between going hungry or eating fish tainted by toxic waste.
Oil and gas exploration poses yet another threat. Quilombola communities reported Brazil to the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for Petrobras’ failure to conduct prior consultations over planned drilling at the mouth of the Amazon, which violates ILO Convention 169.
Climate change delivers yet another blow. In Acre, Ribeirinho communities endured a year-long cycle of extremes, from record floods to a sudden, historic drought. “Everything is out of control — it either rains too much or it’s too sunny,” says 57-year-old farmer Pedro Nascimento. In 2024, a drought on the Xingu River caused the collapse of the Brazil nut harvest, the main source of income for many families, who lost an estimated R$500,000 in revenue.
Despite their role as ecological guardians, these communities receive little support. Over 94.6% of rural Quilombolas live with precarious basic sanitation, and the budget for public policies is insufficient and poorly executed. This lack of investment stands in stark contrast to the immense value these communities offer to Brazil — and to the world.
What Can Global Citizens Do?
The forest cannot survive without its guardians, and its guardians cannot thrive without the world standing with them. As Global Citizen launches its Protect the Amazon campaign ahead of COP30 in Brazil, understanding the struggles and resistance of these communities is more urgent than ever. Here are four ways you can stand with Quilombola and Ribeirinho communities:
- Amplify Their Voices. Listen, understand, and amplify their voices — allowing them to speak for themselves and echoing their demands. Support grassroots media like TV Quilombo, which strengthens identity and autonomy. To ensure their voices reach global platforms like COP30, consider supporting the BrazilFoundation-FAS Fund, which helps women leaders from these communities take their place on the world stage.
- Defend Their Lands. Support the definitive titling of Quilombola and Ribeirinho territories — the first step to securing public services and long-term protections. In May 2025, Quilombo do Brejal became an example of what’s possible when land rights are recognized. This also means demanding that the Brazilian government deliver a functioning budget that addresses urgent issues for these communities. You can also back innovative tools like Tô no Mapa, an application that allows traditional communities to map their own lands and strengthen their claims.
- Fight Legislative and Corporate Threats. Take direct action against harmful policies and corporate projects.
- Call on the Brazilian Congress to reject the "Devastation Bill."
- Demand that mining company Belo Sun be kept out of the Amazon.
- Sign Greenpeace’s "Respect the Amazon" petition to urge COP30 leaders to stop financing deforestation and invest in solutions led by local communities.
- Provide Direct Financial Support. One of the most impactful ways to help is by donating to representative organizations. CONAQ (Coordenação Nacional de Articulação de Quilombos) is the national organization for Quilombolas, and your support directly strengthens their fight for land rights, dignity, and autonomy. If you prefer to support the Quilombola communities of the Amazon directly, you can donate to Malungo (Coordenação das Associações Quilombolas do Pará), their specific state-wide independent organization, or follow them on Instagram (@malungupara) and show your support!
The fight for the Amazon isn’t just about trees — it’s about people, culture, history, and the planet’s future. The Quilombolas, the Ribeirinhos, and their allies are holding the line. Now, it’s time for the world to stand with them.