The Apiaká and the Juruena National Park: An experience of shared territorial management

Abstract For many years, environmentalist thought held that nature conservation would only be possible if areas were protected from human action, thereby restricting traditional and indigenous communities’ use and management of territories. The National Policy for Environmental and Territorial Management on Indigenous Lands (PNGATI) has the potential to change this view, as it provides for the reconciliation of conservation interests while safeguarding Indigenous rights. This article discusses the challenges of implementing Indigenous territorial management instruments in the context of overlapping territories of the Apiaká do Pontal and Isolados Indigenous Lands and the Juruena National Park. The study uses document analysis to identify the legal conflict arising from the overlap and examines measures that have facilitated mutual understanding toward shared management. The main conclusion is that land regularization is essential for resolving conflicts.