Basic needs

A deteriorating forest deeply impacts Indigenous life. The majority of people we spoke to said that deforestation had increased and their living standards had declined. They had less access to water and food, and worse health. The biggest decline reported was in the ability to hunt, fish and grow crops, with 68% saying this had got worse in the past ten years. Across the world, tropical forests are still being lost year by year.

Leo Morales from Venezuela said: “It’s getting worse because the forests are further away. The animals are further away. They’re moving further inland. The rivers have dried up, there are no more fish.”

Those we spoke to frequently called out their lack of access to healthcare facilities and medicines. Rocío Picaneray Chiqueno, from Bolivia, said there was no health centre near her community, which suffered from health problems including tuberculosis, HIV and high blood pressure.

All 11 people we spoke to in Venezuela said their health situation was worse than it had been ten years ago, with many saying the lack of medical supplies was the reason why. Two said they need to bring their own supplies when visiting a hospital. But changing Indigenous diets, caused in part by difficulties in growing and hunting food, was also brought up by many people. Some stressed that the forest itself gives medicine.

Daniela Duri Apana, 25 from Bolivia
Daniela Duri Apana, 25
Tacana, Bolivia
We don't have drinking water, we don't have electricity, we don't have a good education in our community. We don't have water that we can be sure is clean.
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Daniela Duri Apana, 25 from Bolivia
Daniela Duri Apana, 25
Tacana, Bolivia
We don't have drinking water, we don't have electricity, we don't have a good education in our community. We don't have water that we can be sure is clean.Our health post, if you saw it, is abandoned, the walls are peeling and there are no medicines, no one to attend to us. We have to travel from one community to another to be treated at a health centre.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Manuel Santa Cruz Mamío, 32 from Bolivia
Manuel Santa Cruz Mamío, 32
Ese Ejja, Bolivia
Look, right now, because of the flood, many animals have died. It was very sad that we lost so many animals here.
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Manuel Santa Cruz Mamío, 32 from Bolivia
Manuel Santa Cruz Mamío, 32
Ese Ejja, Bolivia
Look, right now, because of the flood, many animals have died. It was very sad that we lost so many animals here...There are now plenty of fish in the lakes, and we are surviving on that...but down in the lowlands, when you go there, you don't see a single animal track in the lowlands.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Nardy Velasco Vargas, 41 from Bolivia
Nardy Velasco Vargas, 41
Chiquitano, Bolivia
Climate change has had a significant impact. Food security is already declining significantly, and we're not eating as we should or as our parents did in the past.
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Nardy Velasco Vargas, 41 from Bolivia
Nardy Velasco Vargas, 41
Chiquitano, Bolivia
Climate change has had a significant impact. The timing is no longer the same. Planting is often not 100% the same, because before, we could know when to plant and when not to plant. We're doing badly on that front, because food security is already declining significantly, and we're not eating as we should or as our parents did in the past.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Yatakulo Waurá, 30 from Brazil
Yatakulo Waurá, 30
Waurá, Brazil
After 10 years things are getting worse. Today there are fires, and the river is drying up a lot.
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Yatakulo Waurá, 30 from Brazil
Yatakulo Waurá, 30
Waurá, Brazil
I think that after 10 years things are getting worse... the river wasn’t drying up and there weren’t fires. But today there are fires, and the river is drying up a lot.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Juma Xipaia, 34 from Brazil
Juma Xipaia, 34
Xipaia, Brazil
When I look at health, you have many people today with gastric and gastrointestinal problems, stress, anxiety, cancer. And I am very concerned, because I believe that even worse health problems are yet to come.
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Juma Xipaia, 34 from Brazil
Juma Xipaia, 34
Xipaia, Brazil
When I look at health, you have many people today with gastric and gastrointestinal problems, stress, anxiety, cancer. And I am very concerned, because I believe that even worse health problems are yet to come...Today, we are afraid to eat fish. Because of mercury. The impact on health is absurd. We have entire peoples and communities contaminated.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Lídia Guajajara, 28 from Brazil
Lídia Guajajara, 28
Guajajara, Brazil
We are experiencing a climate emergency, which also affects our traditional diet. It even impacts our rituals.
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Lídia Guajajara, 28 from Brazil
Lídia Guajajara, 28
Guajajara, Brazil
We are experiencing a climate emergency, which also affects our traditional diet. It even impacts our rituals. The rituals that take place depend on hunting. Today, almost no one can catch fish at the right time, hunt at the right time, plant at the right time, because there is really this confusion with the weather. And this directly impacts our way of life.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Nilson Alvear Peña, 50 from Colombia
Nilson Alvear Peña, 50
Cocama, Colombia
Healthcare is a system in which we have been largely abandoned. So every time a patient has an advanced illness, they have to travel to Bogotá, and often they don't return on foot, but rather in a coffin.
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Nilson Alvear Peña, 50 from Colombia
Nilson Alvear Peña, 50
Cocama, Colombia
Healthcare is a system in which we have been largely abandoned, not only in our territory, but throughout the Colombian state. We would have liked the healthcare reform to have been approved. So every time a patient has an advanced secondary level illness, they have to travel to Bogotá, and often they don't return on foot, but rather in a coffin. We defend ourselves with traditional medicine
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Roque Miraña Miraña, 29 from Colombia
Roque Miraña Miraña, 29
Miraña, Colombia
Certain anomalies have been generated by heat. It's a heat that doesn't burn, but rather scorches, as if standing next to a fire.
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Roque Miraña Miraña, 29 from Colombia
Roque Miraña Miraña, 29
Miraña, Colombia
Certain anomalies have been generated by heat. It's a heat that doesn't burn, but rather scorches, as if standing next to a fire. We see the issue of headaches, fatigue. I don't know if it's even affected the issue of cleanliness. Before, you would go to the river around 6 in the morning and return at 11, but you can't do that anymore. You have to return very early. The heat starts abruptly.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Ngonzi Bokoko Petrous, 50 from DRC
Ngonzi Bokoko Petrous, 50
Indigenous Pygmy, DRC
If no effort is made to protect the forests, we will not live long. Serious difficulties will follow, food will become harder to find, there will be epidemics and sudden deaths.
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Ngonzi Bokoko Petrous, 50 from DRC
Ngonzi Bokoko Petrous, 50
Indigenous Pygmy, DRC
If no effort is made to protect the forests, we will not live long. Serious difficulties will follow, food will become harder to find, there will be epidemics and sudden deaths. If we do not take care of our forests and protect them as our ancestors did, we will no longer be able to live. Soon the forest will disappear and we will be the ones who suffer.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Prescillia Monireh, 32 from DRC
Prescillia Monireh, 32
Bambuti, DRC
Progress is slow. We are truly a people who isolate ourselves from all modernisation. And so, we are a little isolated. There are communities with no markets, no health centres, fewer schools.
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Prescillia Monireh, 32 from DRC
Prescillia Monireh, 32
Bambuti, DRC
We're not saying that nothing has been done, that there has been no improvement. Progress is slow. We are well aware that we live deep in the forest. And we are truly a people who isolate ourselves from all modernisation. And so, we are a little isolated. There are other communities that have no markets, no health centres, and even fewer schools. We are evolving at a snail's pace.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Rifya Rusdi, 23 from Indonesia
Rifya Rusdi, 23
Sagea, Indonesia
Our lives are very dependent on the river. But on 14 August 2023, our river water was polluted. Since then, we have not dared to consume river water, so we only use well water.
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Rifya Rusdi, 23 from Indonesia
Rifya Rusdi, 23
Sagea, Indonesia
Currently, our lives are very dependent on the river. But on 14 August 2023, our river water was polluted. Since then, we have not dared to consume river water, so we only use well water. Now almost the entire community depends on refilled or bottled clean water.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Nulkir Sababalat, 49 from Indonesia
Nulkir Sababalat, 49
Indonesia
The water has turned yellowish. Why? Because there is pollution. There are companies operating in the forest, upstream.
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Nulkir Sababalat, 49 from Indonesia
Nulkir Sababalat, 49
Indonesia
There are signs, based on local knowledge, that the water is no longer as clear as it was 10 or 20 years ago. Now, even a little rainfall shows a change — not because it is murky due to the intensity or duration of the rain, the water has turned yellowish. Why? Because there is pollution. There are companies operating in the forest, upstream. That is a sign that conditions are getting worse.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Vincent Kwipalo, 63 from Indonesia
Vincent Kwipalo, 63
Yei, Indonesia
We are worried that these waters will be contaminated with fertilisers and chemicals. And no one is talking about this…the impact on the community.
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Vincent Kwipalo, 63 from Indonesia
Vincent Kwipalo, 63
Yei, Indonesia
They have already started planting and fertilising. So we are worried that these waters will be contaminated with fertilisers and chemicals. And no one is talking about this. The local government does not seem to be talking about this—the impact on the community.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Cindy Yohana (Ndada Nggole), 28 from Indonesia
Cindy Yohana (Ndada Nggole), 28
Wairasa, Indonesia
When we go to the rice field, you get the fish, everything – you name it, we get it. And right now it’s really hard, because of the fertilizer, and the pesticide, they're killing them
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Cindy Yohana (Ndada Nggole), 28 from Indonesia
Cindy Yohana (Ndada Nggole), 28
Wairasa, Indonesia
When we go to the rice field, you get the fish, everything – you name it, we get it. Right now it’s really hard, because of the fertilizer, and the pesticide, they're killing them. And then the local government brings other fish from outside and then puts [them] in our fresh water, because they think we need that. And then they’re eating the local fish
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Erick Aguirre, 35 from Peru
Erick Aguirre, 35
Arazaire, Peru
On the subject of hunting, as I said, due to deforestation and illegal mining in communities and territories, the forest has been disappearing, causing animals to migrate elsewhere
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Erick Aguirre, 35 from Peru
Erick Aguirre, 35
Arazaire, Peru
This year has been even more different because of climate change, which is bringing us more drought and making it difficult for us to catch fish because the fish we used to catch in the rivers are contaminated with mercury, which is now a bit risky to consume because in the long run we are going to get sick.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Lizardo Cauper Pezo, 45 from Peru
Lizardo Cauper Pezo, 45
Shipibo, Peru
At the national level, both in the Andes and the Amazon, there are no basic services whatsoever in the communities
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Lizardo Cauper Pezo, 45 from Peru
Lizardo Cauper Pezo, 45
Shipibo, Peru
Both in the Andes and the Amazon, there are no basic services whatsoever in the communities. That’s why there are so many socio-environmental impacts, because the only source of clean water has been from the forests themselves…Now with illegal activities such as coca, mining, hydrocarbons or other types such as monoculture, they are already polluting the headwaters
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Evaristo Nunkuang Ikanan, 76 from Peru
Evaristo Nunkuang Ikanan, 76
Awajún, Peru
In our communities and our village, the arrival of outsiders has brought HIV infection.
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Evaristo Nunkuang Ikanan, 76 from Peru
Evaristo Nunkuang Ikanan, 76
Awajún, Peru
In our communities and our village, the arrival of outsiders has brought HIV infection... There is a lot of infection due to the arrival of people who grow coca, work in timber, mines, meet with girls, Awajún women in the area and spread the infection.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Francis Quique, 30 from Peru
Francis Quique, 30
Harakmbut, Peru
As indigenous people, we have always lived off fishing, hunting and gathering. And today, it has become very difficult for us
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Francis Quique, 30 from Peru
Francis Quique, 30
Harakmbut, Peru
You can no longer find the same fish, you can no longer find healthy fish, and the same goes for hunting. Before, for example, you could go hunting for half an hour or an hour, walking through the forest, and you would find an animal, but today you have to go in for days."
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Azariah Johnson, 31 from Suriname
Azariah Johnson, 31
Lokono, Suriname
Indigenous communities are now in a in a phase where we have to adapt but it's still a long process adapting to these challenges we are facing, like extreme heat, drought, extreme rainfall.
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Azariah Johnson, 31 from Suriname
Azariah Johnson, 31
Lokono, Suriname
It has worsened because of climate change. Indigenous communities are now in a in a phase where we have to adapt but it's still a long process of adapting to these challenges we are facing, like extreme heat, drought, extreme rainfall. When I say we have to adapt, that doesn't mean that the government is supporting us in these adaptations efforts
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Williams Eugenio Castro, 48 from Venezuela
Williams Eugenio Castro, 48
Yekuana, Venezuela
[Because of] mercury contamination, children are being born with birth defects; they are special children. The Sanema people are being affected by tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases.
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Williams Eugenio Castro, 48 from Venezuela
Williams Eugenio Castro, 48
Yekuana, Venezuela
[Because of] mercury contamination, children are being born with birth defects; they are special children. The Sanema people are being affected by tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases. This has increased steadily, and we haven't had enough medicine to prevent the spread of these diseases.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Leo Morales, 39 from Venezuela
Leo Morales, 39
Pemón, Taurepang, Venezuela
It's already getting worse because the forests are further away. The animals are further away. They're moving further inland. The rivers have dried up, there are no more fish.
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Leo Morales, 39 from Venezuela
Leo Morales, 39
Pemón, Taurepang, Venezuela
It's already getting worse because the forests are further away. The animals are further away. They're moving further inland. The rivers have dried up, there are no more fish. So I think it's a little worse now. People have to look to Pacaraima, to the small towns here, to buy chicken.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Margarita Salas Tuno, 72 from Bolivia
Margarita Salas Tuno, 72
Tacana, Bolivia
There are animals that are already extinct because of the flooding.
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Margarita Salas Tuno, 72 from Bolivia
Margarita Salas Tuno, 72
Tacana, Bolivia
There are animals that are already extinct because of the flooding. It's sad to see those animals dying when everything floods. So, there's a huge loss of wild animals there: they die, they become emaciated. There are few left.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Marco Martínez, 51 from Ecuador
Marco Martínez, 51
Shuar, Ecuador
Well, in my canton, we don't have safe water. I grew up drinking water from the river but now the water is contaminated. So there's no safe water and our communities suffer from that.
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Marco Martínez, 51 from Ecuador
Marco Martínez, 51
Shuar, Ecuador
Well, in my canton, we don't have safe water. I grew up drinking water from the river but now the water is contaminated. There's illegal mining and legal mining, which are two different things; legal mining is much more polluting. So there's no safe water and our communities suffer from that. Currently, there are a lot of viruses where our children and our families are getting sick.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
Simon Petrus Balagaize, 42 from Indonesia
Simon Petrus Balagaize, 42
Malin-Anin, Indonesia
The river that was once used for daily life is severely affected. The fish have disappeared. People who bathe in the river now suffer from skin disorders.
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Simon Petrus Balagaize, 42 from Indonesia
Simon Petrus Balagaize, 42
Malin-Anin, Indonesia
The river that was once used for daily life is severely affected. In the past, it was home to many kaloso fish, which were a source of income for the community. However, in the last ten to fifteen years, these fish have disappeared. The impact of waste from oil palm plantations is enormous. People who bathe in the river now suffer from skin disorders and other negative health effects.
Dangers
worse same better n/a
Access to clean water
Threats against the community
Deforestation
Fires
Hunting, fishing & food access
Community health
Land rights
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