Utoo Radio and Other News Sources, April 18, 2024 Brazil's President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has announced the creation of two new Indigenous territories, bringing the total number of new reserves to 10.

The Cacique Fontoura reserve in Mato Grosso state and the Aldeia Velha territory in Bahia state will cover a combined area of almost 132 square miles (342 square kilometres).

Lula's predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro, encouraged widespread development of the Amazon and made good on his pledge to not demarcate a single centimetre of additional Indigenous land. However, the latest two new territories would not be enough, as legal issues were cited for the delay in setting aside additional lands.

The four envisioned Indigenous territories that were not authorized are occupied by farmers with ownership rights to those lands.

Indigenous leader Dinamam Tuxá expressed his partial happiness and said every new Indigenous territory is a victory.

Last year, Brazil's Supreme Court ruled to enshrine Indigenous land rights in a case brought by farmers seeking to block Indigenous peoples from expanding their territorial claims.