Indians and NGOs campaign to save Xingu River
February 16, 2007
This page was created in 2007 and may contain language which is now outdated.
Indigenous peoples, NGOs and farmers are combining forces to save the headwaters of the Xingu River, a major tributary of the Amazon.
In the last decade, deforestation along the Xingu's headwaters has doubled. The campaign aims to restore and protect the headwaters and gallery forests.
Eighteen tribes, with a population of 10,000, live in this region. All depend on the rivers for fish and drinking water. The Xingu Park is home to 14 of the tribes, but the headwaters of the river lie outside the park and are therefore unprotected. Already some tributaries have dried up due to deforestation and forest fires.
The Brazilian Socio-Environmental Institute (ISA), is coordinating the campaign, which is called 'Y Ikatu or 'Good water, clean water' in the language of the Kamaiurá tribe.
ISA has launched a new web site about the campaign. To get involved click here (Portuguese)
To download information in English, click here
