Prior to the European colonization, more than 1.000
indigenous societies
(between 2 and 4 million people) are estimated to have lived in
Brazil.
Nowadays, their population has declined drastically to about 220 indigenous societies with
approximately 370.000 people distributed all over Brazil.
In order to protect this valuable
social / cultural
diversity, Brazil has established about 1 million sqkm of indigenous land which corresponds to
approximately 12% of its territory. Further information to this subject can be found
at the website of
Instituto Socioambiental
