Overview
- The presidential chief of staff, Guilherme Boulos, announced the repeal of Decree 12.600 following meetings with Indigenous representatives.
- Revocation immediately cancels contracted dredging and riverworks across the Tapajós, Madeira and Tocantins rivers.
- Weeks of protests in Santarém included a camp of up to 1,200 people, an occupation of Cargill’s office and blockades of grain ferries on the Tapajós.
- Indigenous groups and environment officials said required consultations were skipped and warned of sedimentation, degraded water quality, reduced fish stocks and food insecurity.
- The waterways plan had aimed to ease transport for agribusiness and mining with larger cargo vessels, while Indigenous leaders and the minister for Indigenous peoples publicly celebrated the reversal.