Ailton Krenak

Brazilian Indigenous leader fighting deforestation and climate injustice

About Ailton Krenak

Ailton Krenak is a Krenak族酋长 and environmental activist leading Brazil’s Indigenous resistance against Amazon deforestation. Since 2021, he has organized protests against illegal logging and mining in his homeland near Rio Doce, mobilizing global attention to Indigenous land rights. Krenak’s advocacy intersects with climate justice, emphasizing the role of Indigenous knowledge in preserving biodiversity.

In 2023, he spearheaded the Amazon Alive Campaign, a coalition of Indigenous groups and NGOs demanding Brazil’s government enforce environmental laws. His testimony at the 2022 UN Climate Summit in Sharm El-Sheikh highlighted how Indigenous territories store 15% of the Amazon’s carbon reserves. Krenak’s community-based reforestation projects have planted over 500,000 trees in degraded areas.

His 2024 TED Talk, “The Amazon’s Last Stand: A Call for Unity”, criticized corporate greed and urged international solidarity. Krenak also co-founded the Krenak Indigenous Education Network, teaching youth ecological stewardship and traditional farming techniques.