Indigenous people in the Peruvian Amazon who have only recently come into contact with the outside world say they want conservation projects to stay out of their territory, along with the NGOs and researchers championing these initiatives. The demands are outlined in the Chachibay Declaration, recently drafted by Indigenous leaders from 12 communities located deep in Peru’s Amazon Rainforest. It was signed at a unique gathering between the leaders in the Chachibay native community in the Ucayali Basin in May, when they also created the first Federation for Nationalities of Recently Contacted Indigenous Peoples and Their Families Living in Voluntary Isolation. The declaration demands that large-scale conservation initiatives operating on or near their territory, like REDD+ — ostensibly meant to prevent deforestation — come to a halt. It also rejects “exploitative conservationists” who control development projects and funds in their territory. The signatories also stress that Indigenous self-governance is the only way to protect both their communities and their families still living in voluntary isolation, and who face increasing threats from outsiders. “The Murunahua Reserve here in Ucayali — that ‘model protected area’ — has more illegal coca fields and loggers than guard posts. Our families there don’t need another biodiversity report; they need all those profiting from our misery to leave,” reads the English translation of the declaration. The declaration was translated into English by Alejandro Argumedo, director of programs and Andes Amazon lead with the Swift Foundation, who was at the meeting in May. Argumedo said the Swift…This article was originally published on Mongabay

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