By Mayara Subtil*
The SOMAI (Sistema de Observação e Monitoramento da Amazônia Indígena) platform, co-developed by IPAM (Instituto de Pesquisa Ambiental da Amazônia) and partner organizations, already covers 80 TIs (Indigenous Lands) in the Brazilian Amazon, illustrating how indigenous protagonism can be strengthened through technologies that facilitate surveillance and monitoring of traditional areas in the face of invasions and the advance of environmental crimes. The tool currently has 996 users and is used by around 180 indigenous organizations and civil society entities.
Conserving the Amazon biome and working to keep it standing is directly linked to the presence of indigenous peoples and the conservation of their territories. Indigenous science and ways of life act as a shield that helps inhibit the advance of deforestation, invasions and forest fires, contributing above all to the balance of the region’s climate regime.
Given this scenario, Indigenous Peoples’ Day, celebrated this Sunday (19), reinforces the need to value the role of indigenous peoples in preserving the Amazon biome. SOMAI was co-created in 2014 by IPAM together with indigenous organizations such as COIAB (Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon), APIB (Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil), CIR (Indigenous Council of Roraima) and indigenists such as FUNAI (National Foundation of Indigenous Peoples).
Two years later, ACI (Alerta Clima Indígena) was born, also as a result of this collaborative work and with the involvement of other partners such as Instituto Raoni and COCALITIA (Comissão de Caciques e Lideranças da Terra Indígena Araribóia). Over the years, new organizations have joined in the co-construction of the SOMAI-ACI system.
“SOMAI-ACI integrates indigenous technology and geotechnology, strengthening territorial monitoring and recording what happens in the Indigenous Territories. The SOMAI-ACI system aims to strengthen the autonomous surveillance initiatives that are already being carried out by indigenous peoples in their territories and to catalyze the documentation and qualification of documents aimed at the need to respond to environmental crimes, delimitation, retaking of TIs [indigenous lands] or the creation of projects that strengthen the various potentialities of these territories,” explained Ray Pinheiro Alves, a researcher at IPAM’s Indigenous Studies Center.
While SOMAI gathers public data such as hotspots, burn scars, deforestation, rainfall and drought patterns, as well as data on vegetation, human occupation, CAR (Rural Environmental Registry) records and the presence of enterprises in the territories, ACI helps collect data in the field, including in areas without internet access.
With the ACI, it is possible to register georeferenced alerts of violations in the territories, including photos, texts and even audio. The tool also makes it possible to measure areas and distances. Everything is stored on the device and synchronized with SOMAI as soon as an internet connection is available. The integrated data is protected by the LGPD (General Data Protection Act) and can only be accessed by people or organizations that have collected their own data.
Studies conducted by IPAM show that demarcated indigenous territories influence regional climate regulation. In other words, they act as a “natural air conditioner” if protected and conserved. According to a technical note released in partnership with the Woodwell Climate Research Center, demarcated indigenous lands in the Amazon have a 2°C lower temperature than unprotected areas.
In these areas, the conservation of forest cover helps to reduce the average local temperature, creating islands of thermal stability. In a context of rising global thermometers, they are consolidated as key zones for containing extreme temperatures and conserving the ecosystem services that the forest provides.
A study carried out by IPAM researchers and published in the scientific journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Science suggests that indigenous lands, as well as protected natural areas in the Amazon, are less prone to carbon stock loss due to degradation. The reason is that the release of carbon in these regions is offset by the growth of forest vegetation.
Munduruku people
Marked by the constant threat of illegal miners, loggers and land grabbers, who put their integrity and way of life at risk, the Munduruku people, from the Munduruku Indigenous Land, in the Tapajós River basin, use SOMAI and ACI to monitor their territory. Since its adoption, the combined use of the platform and the app has strengthened the process of autonomous indigenous surveillance and territorial defense.
“We are here to continue protecting our territory. We want to strengthen the monitoring work, especially in the territorial boundary regions, where there are no established villages yet, but where there are already signs of invasion. What we want is not something illegal. We want what is good for our people. This fight is about guaranteeing the future of the next generations,” said Ana Poxo, coordinator of the Munduruku Ipereğ Ayũ Movement.
In many cases, the data produced has been fundamental in reinforcing the continued presence of communities in regions without state infrastructure, as well as supporting demands for public policies, such as access to education and territorial protection. The tool has been used to map Brazil nut collection areas, open records of new villages and document the impacts of climate change.
The information on the Munduruku, including Ana Poxo’s report, will be available in the publication “Good Practices for Strengthening Participatory Surveillance applied to Indigenous Territorial Protection in Brazil”, to be launched on May 12, 2026 by IPAM in conjunction with UNODC (United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime).
*IPAM Communications Analyst