The legally recognized **Indigenous Territories (IT)** in the **Amazon and Atlantic Forest** play a strategic role in the **prevention of [respiratory, cardiovascular, and zoonotic diseases]( according to research published in *Communications Earth and Environment* and *One Health*.
By preserving the **forest coverage** and maintaining sustainable use practices, these areas contribute to **mitigating health risks** in contexts of high environmental degradation.
## Fires and respiratory health: the protective effect of forests
The analysis of **20 years of data in eight Amazonian countries** revealed that ITs can **reduce the incidence of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases** associated with fires, especially in areas with **high vegetation coverage**.
However, the effect is not linear: **habitat fragmentation** can counteract these benefits, as explained by **Paula Prist**, a researcher at the [**IUCN**](
“The protection of ITs is more effective in municipalities that already have an average forest coverage,” noted Prist.
## Zoonoses and Indigenous coverage: fewer vectors, fewer diseases
**Malaria, leishmaniasis, hantavirus, and spotted fever** decrease in territories with traditional management.
In the case of **vector-borne diseases** such as **mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies**, ITs covering more than **40% of the municipal territory** show a **significant reduction in incidence**.
This includes pathologies such as **malaria, Chagas disease, cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis, hantavirus, and Rocky Mountain spotted fever**.
## Atlantic Forest: evidence of resilience in Brazil’s most degraded biome
**Indigenous Lands** lost only 1.2% of their vegetation in 30 years, compared to 19.9% on private lands.
Although they represent only **0.81% of the biome**, ITs in the **Atlantic Forest** act as **effective barriers against deforestation**.
Their collective and ancestral management allows them to **preserve biodiversity**, reduce the migration of **synanthropic animals** to urban areas, and **control vector-borne diseases**, as highlighted by **Ana Filipa Palmeirim**, a researcher at **UFPA**.
## Ecosystem services and paradigm shift
Recognizing the respectful link between indigenous peoples and the land is key to rethinking **[environmental health](
Researchers agree that ITs should be recognized not only for their **cultural and environmental value** but also as **living public health infrastructure**.
The **ancestral relationship of indigenous peoples with the territory**, based on **traditional knowledge, social norms, and sustainable practices**, offers **concrete solutions** to the health and ecological crisis.
“There are no healthy people in a sick land,” affirms **Vanessa Anny**, a professor at **UFRR**. “Understanding this respectful relationship is essential to propose new attitudes and build a more balanced connection with the world.”
*By Luiz Felipe Fernandes/[SciDev.Net](
*Cover photo: Kleverenrique/Wikimedia Commons*
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