Quilombola Communities in Maranhão Face Fire, Drought, and Pesticides under Death Threats

The quilombola community of Cocalinho, in Parnarama (MA), faces recurring fires and the advancement of agribusiness, which have destroyed crops, reduced spring water sources, and increased health risks. In late August, fire consumed the fields of Maria Madalena Peres, 75, and her husband, Francisco Araujo, 79, known as Nego Boro, who lost his entire yearly harvest. They say the fires have intensified over the past two years with rising temperatures and declining humidity. Surrounded by soybean and corn farms, the community of 180 families reports deforestation, pesticide spraying, and pressure to leave. Local leader Raimunda Nonata, 37, entered a protection program earlier this year after receiving threats from landowners and politicians. Cocalinho was recognized as a quilombo in 2015, but demarcation remains stalled at Incra. Residents attribute the worsening situation to the agricultural expansion in the Matopiba region and to major companies operating nearby. Adjacent lands owned by Suzano since 2009 later sold to soybean and corn producers surround the territory. The company denies its operations cause environmental harm. According to quilombolas, deforestation increased and reserve areas disappeared once the new owners arrived. The community also reports pesticide contamination: involuntary pesticide drenching, respiratory problems, skin cancer, and undrinkable water. A 2022 Fiocruz study found atrazine levels three times above legal limits. The case is part of a dossier submitted to the Permanent Peoples Tribunal, which attributed responsibility to the Brazilian state for environmental crimes and human rights violations. Even so, residents say Maranhao continues to approve deforestation and support agricultural expansion. Despite the pressure, Cocalinho maintains sustainable practices, preserves native areas, and resists the advance of farms.