Protecting Indigenous Territories is Critical to Water and Food Security in Much of Brazil

The Amazonian Indigenous Territories play a crucial role in generating the rainfall that supports 80% of Brazil’s agricultural activities. This occurs through “flying rivers”, where moisture recycled in the forests of these lands is transported through the atmosphere and falls as rain in other regions of Brazil. Brazil’s crop and livestock farming heavily depend on water resources, making rainfall a critical factor in their success. In 2021, the states that benefit most from the rainfall produced by Amazonian Indigenous Territories generated R$338 billion in agricultural income, or about 57% of Brazil’s total agricultural income. Deforestation and forest degradation in Indigenous Territoriesreduce rainfall and pose significant risks to Brazil’s water, food, energy, and economic security. Preservingthese forests is vital not only for national water and food security but also for the agribusiness production chain and,thus, for the economic production of a considerable part of the national economy.