Traditional Territories Formalisation Guide

Did you know that it is common in Brazil for traditionally occupied territories not to have documents proving that the community owns the land?

That’s right, this recognition depends on a number of different processes and formalisation on a request to be acknowledged as a traditional community, a process which is not easy, fast, or guaranteed, with many paths to get there.

All traditional communities are entitled to formal recognition of their territories, as assured by the National Policy of Sustainable Development of Traditional Peoples and Communities (Decree 6040/2007). It is the State’s duty to ensure these populations and their future generations can perpetuate their culture, while having their social structures, customs, languages, beliefs, and traditions respected.

To guarantee these basic rights to traditional communities is also a way to preserve Brazil’s ethnic diversity, to foster environmental conservation, agrarian management, and social and economic development for traditional peoples and communities.

The Traditional Territories Formalisation Guide provides information and guidance about the process of recognition and legalisation of traditional territories. This document compiles the main information about the formalisation process of a traditional community’s territorial recognition request and aims to guide communities down the right path to ensure and seize their rights. The guide was drafted by Cerrados Institute, in partnership with the Federal Public Ministry, the Institute for Society, Population, and Nature (ISPN), and the Cerrado Network.

Download the complete version of the Traditional Territories Formalisation Guide and find out how to start a landholding legalisation process:

Recognition is a possible path!