Tree Huggers

On Tuesday, December 9, Brazil’s Senate approved a Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC48) in an expedited and irregular vote that seeks to enshrine the so-called Marco Temporal (“time limit” clause) into the Constitution. If enacted, the measure would allow individuals illegally occupying Indigenous lands, including land-grabbers such as cattle ranchers, to claim rights over territories already recognized as Indigenous territories. It would also expose some of Brazil’s most preserved ecosystems to escalating land grabs and economic pressure.