An ancient path traveled by the Kayapó people about 90 years ago has been opened again in an expedition that unites science, traditional knowledge and conservation of the Amazon.

Eight weeks of this schedule was a lot. A lot of personal growth, a lot of immersion within the Mebengôkre-Kayapó culture, a lot of time to practice speaking Mebengôkre, and a lot of opportunity to actually form relationships with the people whose association I had been working in for the past year.

In May 2026, Matthew Aruch traveled across Mato Grosso and into Kayapo territory for governance meetings with the Instituto Raoni and the Instituto Kabu’s general assembly. Field notes on partnership, the road to Pykany, and what Indigenous-led conservation looks like up close.

Through strong governance systems, including territorial monitoring and guard posts, they have maintained the integrity of their forest across millions of hectares. This continuity creates stability across a vast, intact landscape.

The Mebêngôkre-Kayapó-led Associação Floresta Protegida (AFP – Protected Forest Association) and the Kayapo Project are pleased to announce a new partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation’s Forest and Communities Initiative (FCI).

Hi! My name is Claire Wigglesworth ’25, and I am a Lewin Fellow working with the Kayapo Project’s Associação Floresta Protegida (AFP – Protected Forests Association) in Pará, Brazil.

Jaguars are one of the most emblematic apex predators of South America and despite their historic range stretching from Mexico to Argentina they face mounting threats. Their survival is jeopardized by habitat fragmentation, over-hunting of their prey, and growing conflict with farmers.

The Kayapo and their representatives will participate in events across the Blue Zone, Green Zone, and parallel spaces throughout COP30, bringing the voice of the forest directly to the world stage.

From August 5–9, 2024, more than 5,000 Indigenous women from across Brazil gathered in Brasília for the IV Marcha das Mulheres Indígenas under the theme: “Nosso corpo, nosso território: somos as guardiãs do planeta” — “Our body, our territory: we are the guardians of the planet.”

In 2024, a remarkable Amazon success story continued to unfold despite the wildfire, and smoke that darkened Amazonian skies. The Kayapo People stood strong, protecting over nine million hectares (23 million acres) of their forest territory. This achievement stands as a testament to decades of Kayapo resistance, institution-building, and sustained philanthropic support.

The Amazon is experiencing one of the worst droughts in recorded history. Among those affected are the Kayapo, guardians of one of the largest and most biodiverse tracts of the Amazon rainforest.

The Kamoktidjam village, located on the banks of the Xingu River in the Kayapó Indigenous Territory, was the center of the 2024 season of the “Equipe da Bà/Ba Kam Mē Bà Djwynh” project, a program that combines the use of audiovisual technology and traditional knowledge to strengthen environmental conservation.

Scott embarked on an unforgettable adventure during the 2024 Kayapo Field Course, immersing himself in the heart of the Amazon rainforest. Along the way, he captured breathtaking photographs and penned a diary filled with vivid stories and insights from his journey.

Kayapo territory is large enough to support viable populations of preferred game species such as the white-lipped peccary and tapir that range over large areas and are sensitive to hunting.