News of Note 2/6/26: Indigenous Opposition to EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement, Deep-Sea Mining Dangers, 1M Hectares Added to Protections in Bolivia

Written By Shannon Jowett

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APIB’s Political Statement on the EU-Mercosur Trade Agreement and its Impact on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Articulation of the Indigenous Peoples of Brazil)
“For indigenous peoples, the EU-Mercosur Agreement represents a direct and systemic risk. Tariff reductions on agricultural and mineral commodities will intensify the expansion of the agricultural frontier and aggravate the impacts of mining, putting pressure on forests, savannas, grasslands, and other biomes, as well as driving the establishment of major logistics infrastructure projects—such as railways, waterways, and export corridors — factors that are responsible for the invasion of more than 90% of indigenous territories, resulting in territorial conflicts that promote deadly violence for the indigenous people in all regions of the country.”

Deep-Sea Danger: How The Metals Company Threatens Indigenous and Coastal Communities in Asia and the Pacific (Cultural Survival)
“The Metals Company (TMC), a Canadian firm at the forefront of deep-sea mining, has rapidly expanded its operations across the Pacific, targeting areas vital to Indigenous and other coastal communities in Asia and the Pacific. Although the TMC is not yet commercially mining the seabed, they are pushing to begin mining aggressively – applying for U.S. permits in 2025 and conducting pilot collections (such as 2,000 tons for Nauru).”

Bolivia Indigenous communities, local gov’ts help protect nearly 1 million hectares (Mongabay) 
“Bolivia has added nearly a million hectares to its protected areas over the last several months, an effort by local governments to link Indigenous territories with nearby national parks and strengthen ecological connectivity. The four new protected areas cover 907,244 hectares (2.2 million acres) of Amazon lowlands and Andean highlands, creating corridors intended to improve wildlife migration and maintain forest-based economies for local families. The effort was led by local officials and Indigenous communities, who planned and approved the protections.”

Debates Indígenas - February 2026

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