Brazilian Tribe Forms Group to Combat Illegal Logging in Their Ancestral Land

Laercio Guajajara, a 35-year-old and part of the Brazilian indigenous tribe called Guajajara. His tribe lives in their ancestral land in the Amazon. He is the leader of a group that primarily supports the stop of illegal logging in the rainforest. The rainforest had supported their tribe for hundreds of years. It had provided them food and shelter.

The 'Guardians of the Forest'

They call their group 'Guardians of the Forest.' The group is made up of not exceeding 50 fighters from the Brazilian indigenous tribe. The group patrols approximately 1,600 square miles of land. They call illegal loggers as 'invaders.' When caught on the act, invaders are stopped and detained by the group.

For a group, their actions' impact is only a local battle. Many world leaders are aware of the alarming situation of the Amazon against deforestation and climate change. The fight for this difficult battle rest in the leadership of Laercio's group.

According to Laercio, the land they are protecting is beneficial for the survival of their tribe. Also, their protection in their land positively impacts the world and all the people on the planet.

The 'Guardians' Successful Operation

An article from ABC revealed that they were allowed by the 'Guardians' to document their group and their activities to protect the rainforest. Their documentation employed high-tech equipment and expert reporting methods in capturing on camera the group's operations.

According to Laercio, he does not leave his home without protection. He expresses how he wants to protect himself while outside his home by arming himself with weapons.

After two days of patrolling the forest, mostly during the night, the 'Guardians' were able to corner a group of illegal loggers in their ancestral land.

The 'Guardians' used clubs, bows and arrows, and guns as their weapons in capturing seven of the illegal loggers. The captured men were believed to have been collecting lumber through illegal means for future sale to ranchers in the area.

However, the success of the group's operation after capturing the seven illegal loggers is only a minor part of the issue. One of the captured men revealed that they did the illegal deed due to poverty.

The 'Guardians' burned the confiscated lumber and drove the seven men to the police headquarters in Imperatriz. It took the guardians seven hours to deliver the illegal loggers to the proper authorities. The seven men were charged with illegal entry to the indigenous territory. The group of men was then released after being detained for one day.

Laercio predicts that their group will be seeing the illegal loggers they've captured again in the forest doing the same deed.

President Bolsonaro and His Plans for the Amazon

The 'Guardians are claiming their disagreement with some of the powerful political and economic influences in the nation.

According to the Brazilian indigenous tribe Guajajara, the accelerated devastation of their ancestral home had started since the start of the leadership of Jair Bolsonaro in Brazil. Bolsonaro is also dubbed as the 'Trump of the Tropics.' Bolsonaro was reported to have expressed his support for the development of the Amazon. Upon knowing this, multiple Brazilian indigenous tribes had expressed their disagreement with the president's plans.