RismadarVoice Reporters
February 7, 2026
Brazil on Friday announced the suspension of dredging operations on a major tributary of the Amazon River following sustained protests by Indigenous communities who say the project threatens rivers central to their way of life.
The decision came after hundreds of Indigenous protesters staged demonstrations for nearly two weeks outside a port terminal operated by U.S. agribusiness giant, Cargill in northern Brazil. The protesters said the dredging and planned development of Amazonian rivers for large-scale grain exports would damage ecosystems and undermine their livelihoods.
In a statement, the Brazilian government said it had suspended the process of contracting a company for annual dredging work on the Tapajós River in the state of Pará, describing the move as “a gesture of negotiation.”
The protests are directed at a decree signed in August by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, which designated several major Amazon rivers as priorities for cargo navigation and the expansion of private ports. Indigenous groups argue that the policy was adopted without proper consultation and places commercial interests above environmental protection and Indigenous rights.
Demonstrators are also calling for the cancellation of a federal tender issued in December, valued at 74.8 million reais (about $14.2 million), for the management and dredging of the Tapajós River.
Beyond halting the dredging process, the government pledged on Friday to engage in consultations with affected Indigenous communities before moving forward with any future river development projects.
The Amazon basin is home to dozens of Indigenous groups who depend on its rivers for fishing, transportation, and cultural practices, and disputes over infrastructure development in the region have long been a source of tension between communities, environmental advocates, and government authorities.
