Defending the Amazon with drones

Deforestation in the Amazon continues to be a major threat not only to wildlife and their habitat, but to the Indigenous peoples who live in the rainforest. Award-winning documentary The Territory reveals the extent of the illegal land-clearances taking place, but also shows the work of local communities to protect their land, homes and livelihoods.

The film shows Indigenous people using drones to capture evidence of illegal activity, which can then be passed to law enforcement agencies. And this vital technology has been made available thanks to your support.

Speaking in London while promoting The Territory, Indigenous leaders and environmental activists Bitaté Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau and Txai Suruí explained how the WWF-funded drone – and the training in how to use it – has supported their efforts to protect the land.

“The drone was something very new for us,” Bitaté said. “It was a bit difficult, but we adapted well to using the technology to help protect our territory.

“Using the drone, we found several deforestation spots, including one bigger than 15 football fields – it was very sad to see that, but from our village we didn’t have the bigger perspective. Without the drone, we wouldn’t have known the size of the invasion. But now we’re able to show the reality of what’s happening inside our community.”

Bitaté hopes that other communities will see how the drone has helped the Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people and will adopt technology to improve their defence of their land.

“There are villages that are very difficult to access, so a drone would really help with territorial protection,” he said. “We’ve done it very well, and if we take it to other Indigenous peoples it will strengthen [efforts to protect the forest].”

As The Territory shows, Indigenous peoples face daily threats as they try to protect their land and homes. But as Txai explained, this is not just a local issue. “We know that the Amazon is important not only to the Indigenous peoples and to the people of Brazil, but to all the world,” she said.

“We are talking about life. We are talking about climate change. And all the world needs to be concerned, because the struggle of the Indigenous peoples is a local one – but we are fighting for a global issue.”