On April 25 and 26, 2026, Indigenous authorities and delegates from southern Vichada, representatives of ACATISEMA, and community members participated in a pre-consultation meeting convened by the Ministry of Environment in Cumaribo, Vichada.
The meeting was part of the process related to the proposed resolution on the natural resource reserve within the Amazon Biome, a measure aimed at guiding decisions on the protection of strategic ecosystems and the sustainable use of the territory.
For the Indigenous communities of Matavén, this dialogue represents a key moment to reaffirm the importance of territorial autonomy, Indigenous governance, and the conservation of forests, water, biodiversity, and sacred places.
A Clear Position from the Territory: Zero Mining
During the working sessions, Indigenous authorities and delegates from southern Vichada expressed a firm position on activities that could put the life of the territory at risk: zero mining in Matavén.
This position is rooted in a deep vision of protection. For the communities, the forest is a source of life, culture, food, water, knowledge, and future. Its conservation is directly linked to the permanence of Indigenous peoples and the well-being of new generations.
In this context, the authorities emphasized that any decision made by the State must recognize the historic role of Indigenous communities in protecting the territory and respect the conservation processes that are already being strengthened in Matavén.
Conservation, Indigenous Governance, and REDD+ Commitments
One of the central points of the meeting was the need to ensure that new public decisions are compatible with the existing conservation commitments in the territory.
Since 2013, the REDD+ Matavén Project has contributed to the protection of more than one million hectares of tropical forest in the Selva Matavén Indigenous Reserve. Through this process, the Project has strengthened forest conservation, sustainable land use, restoration, water and biodiversity protection, and programs focused on the well-being of Indigenous communities.
For this reason, the authorities and delegates requested that any measure related to the natural resource reserve within the Amazon Biome take into account the progress, commitments, and conservation mechanisms that already exist in the territory.
Indigenous Knowledge as a Foundation for Territorial Decision-Making
During the pre-consultation process, participants also highlighted the importance of recognizing Indigenous Knowledge Systems, the Law of Origin, and the Word of the Elders as essential foundations for decisions that may affect the territory.
These systems express an integral way of understanding life, the forest, water, animals, plants, and the spiritual relationship with the territory. For Indigenous communities, protecting nature means listening to the wisdom of the Elders, respecting traditional authorities, and strengthening decision-making from the territory.
Including this knowledge in institutional processes is essential to building legitimate, relevant, and culturally coherent public policies for Indigenous peoples.
A Collective Defense of Life
The participation of ACATISEMA, Indigenous authorities, and the communities of Matavén in this pre-consultation process reaffirms a central message: the protection of the territory must be built with those who inhabit it, know it, and care for it every day.
Conservation in Matavén advances through unity, autonomy, and Indigenous governance. Protecting the forest means protecting water, biodiversity, culture, and the future of generations to come.