![]() | Building Protections for Isolated Indigenous Communities and Their Lands |
In Colombia, indigenous peoples in isolation and their territories have urgent protection needs. Since 2011, we have worked collaboratively with local communities, the Colombian Ministry of the Interior, the Colombian National Parks Unit and the indigenous umbrella organization OPIAC to build knowledge regarding uncontacted peoples, to formulate public policies for their protection, and to create other safeguards to help ensure their right to isolation. The indirect information gathering methodologies developed by ACT—including historical research, participatory community surveys, and satellite imagery analysis—prevents risk of accidental contact.
At present, there are indications of thirteen isolated indigenous communities in Colombia, with two communities confirmed. To help protect them, we support the Puré River National Park in the Amazonas department in several areas of its management plan, and have drafted a contingency plan in the event of first contact for use by public officials. Additionally, we are contributing to the development of strategies to protect the territories of isolated peoples in the neighboring Curare-Los Ingleses indigenous reserve, including special zoning, as well as in and around the Puerto Sábalo Los Monos and Monochoa indigenous reserves in the southern region of Chiribiquete National Park. New work to design protection strategies is commencing with the Mapayerri indigenous reserve of the department of Vichada.