Imagine a situation where Indigenous land in Amazonas is being sold as non-fungible tokens (NFTs) without the knowledge or consent of the indigenous inhabitants. This is not a hypothetical scenario, but a reality faced by the Apurinã communities in the Lower Seruini region of southern Amazonas. The culprit? A company named Nemus that claims to be committed to forest conservation and carbon credit generation.
Illicit NFT Sales
The Brazilian Federal Prosecution Service, recognizing the severity of the situation, recommended halting the project in December 2022. Yet, an investigation by InfoAmazonia discovered that the sale of parcels within this Indigenous land in Amazonas, currently undergoing demarcation, continues unabated online, with prices ranging from $17 to $603. The indigenous communities were caught off guard by these developments.
Digital Threat to Indigenous Communities
InfoAmazonia reporters, traversing the Purus River Basin, met the Apurinã Indigenous people, historically victims of persecution and land rights disputes. The current threat to their land is digital, with Nemus selling it online as NFTs. Nemus purports to own over 41,000 hectares in the Lower Seruini/Lower Tumiã Indigenous land. Since March 2022, the company has been selling plots digitally, purportedly to preserve the Amazon. These NFTs also include plans to exploit 200,000 Brazil nut trees and generate carbon credits.
Questionable Environmental NFTs
Despite the Federal Prosecution Service’s recommendation to suspend the project, Nemus continued its sales. During visits to Penedo, Kamarapa, Maloca, and Bom Jesus villages, reporters found 1,482 areas in the Apurinã land registered as NFTs. These digital certificates of ownership, varying in price, represent a new form of land commodification. Nemus justifies its actions by stating that NFT holders can monitor environmental threats and aid in conservation. However, its connection to Manasa Madeireira Nacional S.A., a company with a history of deforestation and environmental crimes, casts doubt on its conservation claims.
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In conclusion, the sale of Indigenous land in Amazonas as NFTs is a pressing issue that requires immediate attention. The indigenous communities’ connection to their land is being threatened by digital commodification, and their rights are being violated. It’s a land dispute with no end in sight, and the stakes are high for the indigenous communities involved.
