Cacique Raoni shared essential reflections on the relationship between indigenous peoples, forests, and the fight against climate change, stating that any significant climate action must consider those who have been the millennia-old guardians of the Amazon. In Panama, climate change is evident in the rising sea levels that are flooding the islands in Guna Yala, one of which had to be relocated to the mainland. Raoni Metuktire, a leader of the Kayapó people from a protected area in the Amazon rainforest in Brazil, met with his Panamanian indigenous counterparts during a climate-focused meeting in that South American country. They exchanged views on forest preservation and indigenous culture. The meeting took place with Cacique Lorenzo González of the Guna Yala comarca, who emphasized the unity of indigenous peoples in Panama, Brazil, and the entire region, reminding everyone that forest protection is achieved not through isolation, but through collective strength and shared stewardship. In turn, Juan Carlos Monterrey, Panama's Special Representative for Climate Change and Vice President of the COP30 Bureau, highlighted the value of this dialogue, which brings indigenous leaders closer to formal negotiation processes and boosts global climate action. The conversation centered on the importance of keeping forests standing, leading rights-based climate governance, and connecting ancestral knowledge with the global decisions made at COP. Panama takes pride in facilitating spaces where the voice of the territory finds a place in decision-making. In Belém, Brazil, during the COP30 meeting, the world's most influential indigenous leaders and representatives of the multilateral climate process gathered. Metuktire is considered an iconic international figure in the struggle to protect the Amazon rainforest. The event allowed the voice of the renowned Kayapó leader to be heard directly by negotiators involved in implementing the Paris Agreement. Additionally, the preservation of the Darién rainforest, which is home to many species, was discussed.
Cacique Raoni and Panamanian Leaders Discuss Amazon Protection at COP30
During COP30 in Brazil, Cacique Raoni and indigenous leaders from Panama discussed the importance of forest conservation and uniting efforts to combat climate change. They emphasized that environmental protection is only possible through collective work and linking traditional knowledge with global decisions.
