Ferrogrão
Railroad to Destruction
Indigenous Amazonians stuck between the rails
There will be no rails without consultation. With this determination, indigenous communities, quilombolas, river dwellers and environmental organizations have united and mobilized against the construction of Ferrogrão, an agro-industrial railway that will cut through the Brazilian Amazon, including the Jamanxim National Park.
The Ferrogrão project is backed by the federal government and private companies, but it ignores the obligation to consult with affected communities. The Kayapó, who live in a pristine part of the Amazon in northern Mato Grosso and southern Pará, fear that the railroad will destroy their way of life.
“Much of the Amazon will face a deadly spiral of deforestation and drought in the coming century”, according to the 2017 study ‘Self-amplified Amazon forest loss due to vegetation-atmosphere feedbacks’. Although the predicted decline in rainfall will not directly lead to a complete collapse of the Amazon ecosystem, large parts of this vast area are certainly at risk, one of the researchers told the British newspaper The Independent at the time.
Dutch scientist Arie Staal was one of the authors of the study. In an interview I conducted with him, titled ‘Playing with water and fire in the Amazon: This is Spiral Death’, he pointed specifically to the southern part of the Brazilian Amazon. “The southern part of the Amazon, where most of the deforestation is taking place, is essential for maintaining rainfall in the region's most fragile forests”, Staal said. His and his colleagues' research has shown that the same is true for the northeastern Amazon state of Pará. Coincidentally, but not really, these are the areas where the Brazilian government, with the support of Dutch companies, had planned a soy transport corridor.
This northern corridor cuts through the Amazon rainforest and includes paved roads, canalized rivers and the Ferrogrão (‘Grain Railway’). From the soy plantations of the Brazilian Midwest to the port of Miritituba on the Tapajós River in Pará, a distance of 1,142 kilometers, this railway will cross indigenous territories and national parks, violating human and environmental rights and causing further deforestation.
PIB
In 2013, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Dutch government launched the PIB Covenant Action Plan for Multi- and Synchromodal Corridors in Brazil. The aim was to study the feasibility of a fast soy route from the state of Mato Grosso through the Amazon to the ports in northern Brazil. PIB stands for Partners for International Business.
The participants in this partnership were Panteia, TNO, EICB, STC-Group and Connekt. On behalf of the government, the Ministry of Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, headed by PvdA Minister Ploumen, the Directorate-General for Foreign Economic Relations and the Dutch Business Agency Agentschap NL were also involved in the implementation of the pact.
The Netherlands financed the study in which Dutch companies explored the possibilities of transport corridors to Brazil's North Coast. This study led to the creation of the Corredor Norte (Northern Corridor) development project.
In addition, in the aforementioned research report, the Dutch companies recommended the construction of a new railway, the Ferrogrão.
Amazon in crisis
More than a decade later, the world's largest river basin is in crisis. Brazil is facing severe droughts, heat waves and wildfires that are devastating the Amazon and the Pantanal. Smoke blankets cities, making air quality dangerous. Many communities in the region are isolated, and fish and dolphin deaths highlight the impact on wildlife. The forest is also struggling to maintain its role as a carbon sink.
Indigenous peoples, including the Kayapó, strongly oppose the construction of the Ferrogrão railroad in the Brazilian Amazon. They see the project as a serious threat to their land and way of life. The Ferrogrão project aims to build a 1,000-kilometer railway to transport soybeans and corn from central-western Brazil to northern ports, cutting through the fragile Amazon rainforest. Indigenous groups, quilombolas (descendants of enslaved people), riverine communities, and environmental organizations have united to oppose the project and demand that they be consulted as required by law.
The Kayapó, who live in a protected area of the Amazon in northern Mato Grosso and southern Pará, say the railroad will destroy their forests and communities. Terra Indígena Baú, where the Kayapó communities live, is described as an oasis of pristine forest surrounded by areas affected by agriculture, mining and deforestation.
Kayapó leaders fear the railroad will attract criminals and harm their children and grandchildren. They vow to protect their forest and will do whatever it takes to stop the project. They also worry that the railroad will disrupt the Kayapó's traditional way of life, potentially causing internal conflict and luring young people to the cities. The indigenous groups argue that the government and private companies supporting Ferrogrão have ignored their legal obligation to consult with affected communities. This injustice is strengthening their resistance to this significant threat to their heritage and environment.
Outposts
For decades, the Kayapó of Terra Indígena Baú in Brazil have defended their vast territory of 11 million hectares from invaders. They maintain outposts throughout their territory to combat threats and drive out illegal miners and loggers.
Threats come from many directions, including across the Curuá River. There, the Kayapó must defend themselves against armed fishermen. When invaders are discovered, their belongings are confiscated, documented, and reported to IBAMA (the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources). Recent police operations have shown that illegal miners pose the greatest threat.
Thanks to the establishment of a monitoring station in the area, there has been a noticeable improvement in water quality. If the water becomes polluted, they will be able to detect an early increase in illegal mining activities, where toxic substances such as mercury contaminate the river that flows downstream to their village.
Amazônia Real
A team from the independent news site Amazônia Real in Manaus, consisting of journalist Leanderson Lima and photographer Alberto César Araújo, recently visited the area and spoke with various leaders and activists. Wakonkra Kayapó, the nephew of Raoni Metuktire, one of the most prominent leaders of the global indigenous movement, expressed deep concern about the proposed EF-170 project, known as Ferrogrão. "I have a bad feeling about it because this railroad goes right through the forest," he summarized.
Another leader, Bemoroi Kayapó, became active as a guardian at the age of 11, helping to evict illegal miners and loggers from their territory. One of the few Kayapó who speaks fluent Portuguese, he is also concerned about the new threat posed by the proposed Ferrogrão railroad. He fears that the railroad will bring cattle ranchers closer to indigenous areas, which could have negative consequences for his community. He says the Kayapó are vigilant and determined to protect their territory from this and future threats.
69 years
The Ferrogrão project is a 933-kilometer rail line connecting Sinop in Mato Grosso to Miritituba in Pará. According to the Brazilian federal government, the project could replace 400 trucks and improve the competitiveness of transportation via the Arco Norte, a logistics corridor in northern Brazil used to export agricultural products, particularly soybeans and corn. The project is seen as an opportunity to reduce logistics costs and promote the export of these products. It is also expected to help reduce CO2 emissions by replacing road transport with rail. If approved, a private company will operate the railway for up to 69 years.
The project includes two additional branch lines: a 32-kilometer line from Itaituba to Santarenzinho and an 11-kilometer line within Itaituba. The project was initially approved by then-President Dilma Rousseff of the center-left Workers' Party (PT) and continued under subsequent administrations. It is currently under review by the government of President Lula, also of the PT.
The Ferrogrão faces opposition from indigenous groups, particularly the Kayapó. They argue that the Brazilian government has violated International Labor Organization (ILO) Convention 169 by failing to consult them. This convention requires governments to protect the rights and integrity of indigenous peoples, including by consulting with these groups so that they can make free, prior, and informed decisions about projects that affect their lives. In the case of EF-170, the federal government ignored Convention 169 and the rights of indigenous peoples. The justification given was that the railway route was “distant” and would have “no direct socio-environmental impact” on indigenous lands.
In October 2024, the Conselho Nacional dos Direitos Humanos (National Human Rights Council) recommended the suspension of all administrative decisions until indigenous peoples, quilombolas and traditional communities are properly consulted.
Road of fire
The Amazônia Real team traveled to the Kayapó territory to investigate the impact of the proposed Ferrogrão railway project. The journey began in Manaus and continued through Santarém, followed by a 12-hour drive on the BR-163 highway to Novo Progresso. As they approached the city, a thick layer of smoke from uncontrolled fires hung in the air, making breathing and visibility difficult.
Novo Progresso, despite its name meaning ‘progress’, showed clear signs of environmental degradation. The city is infamous for the 2019 Dia do Fogo* (‘Day of Fire’) and features a monument to the gold miners who ‘pioneered’ the area, along with a smaller replica of Rio's Christ the Redeemer statue.
The journey continued through Itaituba and Jacareacanga, both known for extensive deforestation and forest fires. As they approached the indigenous territory of Terra Indígena Baú, the situation worsened. The fires threatened to cross the boundaries of previously protected areas. Deforestation around Terra Indígena Baú and Menkragnoti has increased dramatically this year to 38,555.9 square kilometers, a staggering 53-fold increase compared to 2023.
This rapid destruction of their habitat is forcing animals to seek refuge in indigenous areas. The problem, however, is that forest areas are becoming increasingly fragmented and stressed by this new dynamic.
Biologist Luís Carlos Sampaio of the indigenous organization Instituto Kabu has observed an increase in animal populations in the area of Terra Indígena Baú, leading to increased competition for food. A notable example of the flora in this area is the cumaru tree, an impressive species from the South American rainforests. This tree can reach a height of 60 meters and grows extremely slowly. The wood, known as cumaru, is one of the hardest and most durable in the world and is often used in outdoor applications.
In addition, the cumaru tree has cultural and medicinal significance. The seeds, also called tonka beans, are used in perfumes and flavorings, while the ash is sometimes used in traditional shamanic mixtures. The tree, often called the ‘magician's tree’ because of its fanciful appearance, plays a crucial role in the Amazon ecosystem and local culture. The Kayapó harvest the seeds for a British cosmetics company.
Since 2019, however, the production of cumaru seeds has decreased significantly due to accelerated consumption of the fruit by animals as a result of food shortages. This situation illustrates the growing ecological imbalance in the region.
*On August 10, 2019, Brazil experienced the ‘Day of Fire’ (Dia do Fogo), during which landowners and farmers deliberately set fires in the Amazon region. The states of Pará, Amazonas and Mato Grosso were the most affected. Several indigenous territories, including TI Karipuna, TI Kayapó and TI Andirá-Marau, also suffered serious consequences from these fires. This action reflected a broader trend of increasing deforestation and forest fires since the inauguration of President Bolsonaro, who had promised to intervene in protective legislation to make more land available for agriculture and mining. As a result, more than 70,000 forest fires were registered in 2019, an increase of 145% from the previous year. The international community responded with great concern and criticism, including from French President Macron. These events led to calls for stricter legislation against imported deforestation and better protection of the Amazon.
Sources: amazoniareal.com.br; banzeiro.greenarkpress.com
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