MPF gives the company 15 days to explain the sale of NFTs from areas of the Amazon

The MPF (Ministério Público Federal) gave a company 15 days to explain why it sells NFTs (non-fungible tokens) corresponding to areas of the Amazon rainforest in the city of Pauini, in southern Amazonas.

The company, called Nemus, must present documents proving the alleged possession of 41,000 hectares (410 km²) in the region. It is in this area that the company says it trades the digital assets sold on its official page.

Nemus claims that those who buy NFTs “make it possible for the company to take ownership of the land and foster sustainable economic activities.”

The report tried to contact Nemus, but received no response until the publication of the text.

NFTs certify and indicate authenticity of digital files such as illustrations, photos, videos and others. Whoever has an NFT has possession of this file, which can be bought and sold with cash and cryptocurrencies. NFTs became famous as certificates of ownership of digital arts. Buyers of files sold by Nemus, in this case, are called “guardians” by the company.

Also according to the information released by the company, Nemus buys a “threatened land in the tropical forest [na Amazônia]” and creates NFTs that are linked to your geolocation.

Part of the sale of the NFTs would be used to “pay for operations and the purchase of land”. The rest of the money is “stored” to finance “economic and social activity in the region”.

The MPF determined that the company must also explain the projects disclosed, how it intends to explore the land and present a document proving authorization from Funai (Fundação Nacional do Índio) or another public body to operate in the region.

The case reached the MPF through complaints by indigenous leaders of the Apurinã people, who occupy the territory near the Seruini River and the Tumiã River. According to reports, Nemus pressured indigenous people to sign documents without knowing the content and without providing copies.

“According to reports from the indigenous people, the company expressed interest in exploring the chestnut groves located within the indigenous territory, with the opening of an airstrip and road between the Seruini River and the municipality of Pauini, using heavy machinery, but without providing further clarifications, documents or formal authorizations from public bodies”, says the MPF.

Since 2012, the Apurinã people have been waiting for the completion of the indigenous land demarcation process. The Identification and Delimitation Technical Report has been completed, but has not yet been evaluated by the Funai presidency.