Tropical Forest Day (September 14)

On the occasion of Tropical Forest Day on September 14, the Society for Threatened Peoples (STP) urgently calls for comprehensive protection for Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation in South America. “Tropical forests are not only essential climate protectors and biodiversity hotspots, but also places of refuge for communities with unique cultures that are not in contact with mainstream society,” said Jan Königshausen, Indigenous Peoples' Advisor at the Society for Threatened Peoples, today in Göttingen. “If we do not protect these last Indigenous Peoples living in isolation, we will irretrievably lose entire worlds.”

Indigenous Peoples living in voluntary isolation are often referred to as “uncontacted” because they avoid contact with mainstream society and have retreated to remote forest areas. This is usually the result of displacement, missionary attempts, or violence. “The term ‘uncontacted’ is problematic because it does not accurately reflect the negative effects of previous contact and the dangers of renewed attempts to make contact,” says Königshausen.

“Without the legal protection of protected areas, Peoples living in voluntary isolation are extremely vulnerable to disease, violence, and land conflicts. These threats are in turn triggered by deforestation, illegal mining, drug trafficking, and large-scale infrastructure projects,” explains Königshausen. Just last week, on September 5, 2025, the Peruvian Congress rejected the establishment of the long-planned Yavari Mirim Indigenous Reserve – a protected area of 1.17 million hectares (roughly the size of Gambia) that was intended to provide protection for five isolated Peoples (Matses, Matis, Korubo, Kulina-Pano, Flecheiro/Tavakina) living in isolation in the Amazon region. The decision sparked outrage among indigenous organizations and human rights groups, as it further jeopardizes the existence of these communities in their current form. “This is a fatal signal,” says Königshausen. “Peru is failing to fulfill its responsibility to ensure both the rights of indigenous communities and the protection of the globally significant rainforest.”

The threats to Peoples living in voluntary isolation are not limited to Peru. In Brazil and Bolivia, too, influential economic interests and a lack of public awareness are hindering the establishment of protected reserves. “The protective rights of Indigenous Peoples are increasingly being eroded, while the interests of timber and raw materials lobbies are given priority. The renewed increase in missionary attempts by Christian fundamentalist groups such as New Tribes/Ethno360 also pose a great danger to the communities,” warns Königshausen.

The STP calls on Peru to provide comprehensive protection for the habitats of all Peoples living in isolation. “These communities must not be forced to come into contact with outsiders against their will – any contact must be initiated by them,” says Königshausen. He says it is urgently necessary to immediately stop industrial exploitation in their territories, to legally secure existing and planned protected areas – as in the case of the Yavari Mirim Reserve in Peru – and to significantly strengthen government protection measures. “Protecting tropical forests is not only about climate and species protection – it is also about protecting the most vulnerable Peoples on earth,” Königshausen emphasizes.

This press release was translated from German to English using AI. If you come across errors or ambiguities, please contact us at presse@gfbv.de.