Adriana Marques

Brazilian environmental leader pioneering sustainable agriculture in the Amazon

Adriana Marques is an Indigenous leader from Brazil's Amazon region who has pioneered regenerative farming practices while fighting deforestation. Her organization Agrofloresta Viva developed a certification program by 2022 that now includes 300+ Indigenous communities, doubling their average income through eco-friendly cocoa and Brazil nut production. Her 2023 documentary 《Forest Guardians》 (nominated for a Grierson Award) brought global attention to her work. By partnering with WWF Brazil, she helped create protected corridors covering 5 million hectares by 2025. Adriana's 2021 research paper in the Journal of Environmental Policy demonstrated how her agroforestry methods reduce carbon emissions by 40% compared to traditional farming. Her 2024 YouTube series trained 15,000+ farmers in sustainable techniques, earning her the Global Green Leadership Award in 2024. Through her work with the UN's Indigenous Peoples' Programme, she's influencing policy changes in 8 Amazonian countries, proving that Indigenous knowledge can combat climate change effectively.