October 15, 2025


Brazilian Government Pressured to Act Against Illegal Cattle Ranches Harming Indigenous Territories

Human Rights Watch (HRW) issued a dire warning in a recent report, calling on the Brazilian government to take decisive action against illegal cattle ranching operations that are devastating indigenous lands and the environment in Pará, Brazil. The report, released on Wednesday, underscores the urgent need for intervention to halt the destruction and displacement caused by these illicit activities.

The HRW investigation highlights the severe impact on the communities within the Terra Nossa settlement and the Cachoeira Seca Indigenous territory. Originally designated for small farmers, Terra Nossa has seen over 45% of its land overtaken by unlawful ranching by 2023. Meanwhile, Cachoeira Seca, which is legally protected, recorded the highest deforestation rate in an indigenous territory in 2024. Residents facing displacement endure not only the loss of their homes and crops but also threats and violence.

The link between these illegal operations and JBS, the world's largest meat-processing company, is particularly alarming. HRW's findings suggest that some ranches involved in these activities have supplied cattle to JBS, despite the company's deforestation-free policy and commitments to monitor its suppliers. Luciana Téllez Chávez, Senior Environment Researcher at HRW, criticized JBS for its failure to track indirect suppliers, a crucial step for eliminating deforestation from its supply chain.

This situation poses a significant challenge to Brazil's environmental and indigenous policies, including the Forest Code, which aims to regulate land use and protect the environment. Despite these policies, deforestation driven by cattle ranching continues to escalate, now accounting for 17% of the Amazon's degradation.

HRW has called for the immediate removal of these illegal ranches and for the government to compensate the communities affected by these encroachments. Furthermore, they demand that JBS address its role in the human rights violations linked to its supply chain practices. This call to action underscores the shared responsibility among government, corporate entities, and the international community to protect vulnerable ecosystems and the rights of indigenous populations.

In the face of ongoing environmental degradation and human rights abuses, the global community watches closely, awaiting the Brazilian government's response to these urgent calls for justice and environmental stewardship.