As the Brazilian city of Belém gears up to host the pivotal COP30 climate conference in 2025, a historic community on its outskirts is fighting to secure its future. The Quilombola community of Abacatal, descendants of enslaved Africans, is demanding formal recognition of its land rights and a meaningful political voice.
A Legacy of Resistance and Struggle
The Quilombola people represent a powerful legacy of resistance, having formed communities known as quilombos after escaping slavery. Despite this history, their fight for legal title to their ancestral lands remains fraught. The community of Abacatal, located in the municipality of Ananindeua within the Belém metropolitan area, is a poignant example.
Residents report living under constant threat from land grabbers and developers, who are increasingly eyeing the region as Belém's international profile rises ahead of COP30. The community has been waiting for a definitive land title for over two decades, a delay that leaves them vulnerable to displacement and violence.
The COP30 Spotlight and Political Demands
The choice of Belém as the host for the 2025 United Nations climate summit has cast an international spotlight on the Amazon region. Community leaders see this as a crucial moment to amplify their cause, linking their struggle for territory directly to global environmental justice.
They argue that Quilombola communities are frontline defenders of the forest, practising sustainable ways of life that protect biodiversity. Their demand is not just for land deeds but for inclusive political recognition, ensuring they have a seat at the table in discussions about the region's development, especially those linked to the high-profile summit.
"We are the guardians of this land," one community member stated, emphasising that true environmental conservation cannot happen while the rights of its traditional inhabitants are ignored.
A Test for Brazilian Promises
This situation presents a significant test for Brazilian authorities at both state and federal levels. The government has historically been slow to grant titles to Quilombola territories, a process fraught with bureaucratic and political obstacles.
With the eyes of the world soon turning to Belém for COP30, pressure is mounting to address this longstanding injustice. Advocates warn that hosting a major climate conference while ignoring the land rights of local environmental stewards would undermine the event's credibility.
The coming months will reveal whether the preparation for this global gathering will bring the long-overdue justice the Abacatal community seeks or if their pleas will be drowned out by the spectacle of international diplomacy.
