Adriana Nunes

Brazilian environmental activist leading grassroots resistance against Amazon deforestation

Adriana Nunes is a fearless environmental leader and co-founder of Amazon Watch Brazil, an NGO defending the Amazon rainforest and Indigenous rights. Born in Manaus, she witnessed rampant illegal logging and mining encroaching on Indigenous lands. In 2017, she organized the Amazon Survival March, uniting Indigenous tribes, scientists, and activists to protest government laxity on environmental laws. The campaign led to stricter fines for illegal loggers.

Nunes pioneered the Guardian Angels Network, training local communities to use drones and GPS to monitor deforestation. Over 300 citizen scientists now report real-time data to authorities, resulting in 120+ arrests of illegal loggers. Her 2018 documentary "Voices of the Rainforest" exposed corruption in land grants, prompting an audit of federal environmental agencies.

Despite death threats and legal battles, Nunes continues her work. In 2019, she helped establish the Amazon Peace Pact, a cross-border initiative between Brazil, Peru, and Colombia to combat deforestation. Her collaboration with Global Environment Fund secured $5M for Indigenous-led conservation projects. Adriana Nunes’ story is a testament to the power of local action in global environmental crises.