Facts relating to the Ka’apor Community’s proposed REDD+ project in the Alto Turiaçú territory in Brazil.

1. The Ka’apor Ta Hury Association, which represents 95% of the community, initiated the REDD+ FPIC process with Wildlife Works. 

In February 2023, The Ka’apor Ta Hury Association, which represents 24 out of the total 27 villages in the Ka’apor territory, approached Wildlife Works about starting a REDD+ project in their territory. 

Under the Ka’apor’s direction, Wildlife Works has conducted Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) aligned with our implementation framework  and to the satisfaction of the Ta Hury Association, as noted in their clarification letters  and video statement. 

“In this sense, we want to make it clear that, supported by 24 other chiefs and members of the Ka'apor Ta Hury Association, Kaky Association and Ka'até Association, we authorize and monitor the entire transparent and legal process that has been taking place in the year-long negotiations with the company Wildlife Works. And let it also be clear that the carbon credit project is an initiative of the Ka'apor people."

2. 24 informative Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC) workshops in 24 villages have been conducted to date

After an internal Ka’apor mobilization effort, whereby local leaders travelled to villages to explain the initiative, a general assembly was held in August 2023 in the territory to approve the first draft of the proposed consultation plan and to initiate FPIC. 160 people attended, including the local leader of FUNAI. FUNAI, Fundação Nacional dos Povos Indígenas, is the Brazilian governmental protection agency whose mission is to ensure that Indigenous peoples' rights are respected and that their cultures and traditional knowledge are preserved.

Between August 2023 to August 2024, Wildlife Works, local leaders and translators, as well as the community’s own legal counsel, held 24 informative workshops in 24 villages, attended by 607 people, or 67% of the population of the territory older than the age of 16. 

The proposed project is fully supported by these 24 villages including the Timbira and Awá peoples, who together make up 95% of the local population. The Ka'apor Ta Hury Association have expressed and widely circulated their support for their project through their own communication channels: Instagram and their own website. 

3. The opposition comes from a single group, led by a non-Indigenous outsider, formed by just a few families. 

Opposition to the REDD+ project comes from the Ka’apor TUXA TA PAME (Management Council), which represents just 3 of the 27 Ka’apor villages and amounts to only about 5% of the population. The council is led by José Maria Mendes de Andrade (known as Zezinho), a non-Indigenous outsider who receives funding from organizations that have publicly opposed carbon markets.

As stated in the Ta Huri Association’s clarification letter dated May 5, 2025, but first released in Aug 5, 2024 “The villages represented by the “Management Council” (Tuxa Ta Pame) consist of three small villages with only a few families who chose to form their own family nuclei due to various disagreements in the larger villages. They do not represent the Ka’apor people.  In reality, the Council represents only a few families. It is important to note that, from the beginning of the REDD+ Project discussions, they were invited to take part in the process and chose not to. We respect their decision and hope they will also respect the decision of the twenty-four (24) chiefs and the General Chief of the entire Alto Turiaçu Indigenous Land.”

On many occasions, the Ka’apor people have provided the authorities, the press and other stakeholders ample evidence of the overwhelming support that their project has within the territory, and of the Ka’apor’s protagonism in this process. They have made public statements, filmed videos, and petitioned courts to defend their right to lead their own project and protect their territory and way of life. 

As stated by Iracadju Ka'apor of the Alto Turiaçu Indigenous Land, this is an internal Ka’apor issue and he urges his relatives who are part of the TUXA TA PAME Management Council to consult directly with Ta Hury Association. 

4. False information is being amplified by NGOs that are opposed to carbon markets. 

Wildlife Works has recently been made aware of a petition initiated by the German-based NGO Rainforest Rescue, which inaccurately claims that the TUXA TA PAME Management Council represents the Ka’apor people and that the Ka’apor oppose the REDD+ project, along with other false information. As outlined above, these assertions are false.

Our engagement in the region has been conducted solely at the request of the Ta Hury Association, the organization that represents the overwhelming majority of the Ka’apor people. We have held consultation workshops to explore the possibility of a future project, always in alignment with the expressed will of the Ta Hury Association and its community.

The narrative advanced by the petition is false and undermines the legitimate voice and agency of the Ka’apor majority and is fueling internal conflict within their community. This jeopardizes their access to urgently needed climate finance, which the Ka’apor depend on to combat forest fires, defend their territory, and safeguard their lives against illegal incursions.

Wildlife Works remains committed to transparency, respect for Indigenous self-determination, and supporting the Ka’apor people as they pursue solutions to protect their forest and future.

We urge organizations critical of the voluntary carbon market to reconsider tactics that ignore established governance structures and compromise a community’s legitimate self-determination.

We stand firmly with the Ka’apor people in their call for Rainforest Rescue to correct the false claims made in its petition and to issue a formal apology to the community without delay.

Wildlife Works will defer to the legitimate leadership of the Ka’apor and will move at their pace and under their direction. We have paused the FPIC process until we receive direction from the Ka’apor Ta Hury Association together.