Peru court rules in favor of Kichwa territorial rights in the Amazon WSOC TV [Video]

BOGOTA, Colombia — (AP) — A civil court in Peru has issued a landmark ruling recognizing the territorial rights of the Kichwa people within a protected area in the Amazon — marking a major breakthrough for Indigenous land claims.

The decision affirms that Indigenous stewardship is fully compatible with conservation goals, setting a powerful precedent for rights-based forest protection in Peru, according to the Kichwa people and lawyers involved in the case.

The ruling, issued on May 15 but made public on Wednesday, came after a legal challenge by four Indigenous organizations on behalf of Kichwa communities in the San Martín region. The communities say the state denied their ancestral presence for decades, creating protected areas without consultation or consent.

“The ruling validates their historical presence and their right to demand respect for those territories,” Cristina Gavancho, legal adviser to the plaintiff organizations, told The Associated Press on Thursday. “It …