Land tenure and future development affect integrity and geodiversity in Brazilian Indigenous Geocultural sites

Indigenous lands in Central West Mato Grosso, Brazil, face significant threats from infrastructure projects, agricultural expansion, and illegal mining. This study evaluates risks of these, and other threats, to the integrity and geomorphic functions of geocultural sites in three Indigenous Territories (ITs): Tirecatinga, Irantxe, and Utiariti. We characterised site degradation and threats, applied threat assessment tools, and conducted a risk evaluation for these territories. Primary and secondary data, including oral histories from Indigenous leaders, highlighted the spiritual significance of landforms and elements. Our first-level assessment focused on geocultural sites within each territory, identifying threats to the integrity of geodiversity elements and processes. A second-level regional approach determined the resultant risk to the three ITs, and we then compared each IT, given the differences in land tenure, tribal values, and impacts of cultural fragmentation on land use in each territory. We found that risks decreased with reduced tourist accessibility and stronger territorial protections, irrespective of geocultural site geology or geomorphology. Our comparative approach emphasised territory-specific geocultural values and revealed how territorial management practices affect geosites, highlighting the need for government agencies and management bodies to endorse policy actions and legal protections supporting Indigenous self-determination in geocultural values preservation. This work underscores the necessity of addressing both physical and cultural aspects of development on Indigenous lands and integrating Indigenous perspectives into geoconservation efforts. • Indigenous oral histories feature the spiritual and cultural significance of geodiversity elements and landscapes. • Tourism and territorial protections influence geocultural site vulnerability, independent of geology or geomorphology. • Revised method incorporates detailed contributing factors to geoconservation risk assessment. • Geoconservation must address both physical landscape integrity and indigenous cultural heritage. • Policy frameworks must integrate Indigenous knowledge and perspectives for effective geodiversity conservation.