Brazil has suspended dredging operations on the Tapajos River, a major Amazon tributary, following protests by Indigenous communities who see the rivers as central to their culture and way of life.

For two weeks, hundreds of Indigenous demonstrators have gathered outside the port terminal of US agribusiness giant Cargill in northern Brazil, demanding attention from President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s government. Protesters oppose the dredging and expansion of rivers to support grain exports.

In a statement, the government confirmed the suspension of the annual dredging contract on the Tapajos River in Para state “as a gesture of negotiation.”

The protesters have called for the cancellation of an August decree by President Lula that prioritized major Amazon rivers for cargo navigation and private port expansion. They also oppose a federal tender issued in December, valued at 74.8 million reais ($14.2 million), for the management and dredging of the Tapajos River.

The government pledged that any future dredging or river development work will involve consultation with local Indigenous communities, signaling a potential shift toward more inclusive environmental and cultural policy.