Andrés Fabián Arias

Colombian environmental activist leading global reforestation initiatives through innovative community programs

Andrés Fabián Arias is a Colombian biologist and environmental leader behind the Boserosa initiative, which has planted over 1.2 million trees in degraded areas of Colombia since 2016. His approach combines scientific rigor with grassroots mobilization, creating replicable models for community-led reforestation.

Arias developed the Carbono Neutral methodology that links tree planting with local economic development. This model employs marginalized communities in restoration projects while creating carbon credits traded internationally. His work has been adopted by UNDP programs in Latin America and inspired similar projects in Peru and Ecuador.

He co-founded Ecopark, a sustainable urban development project in Medellín that integrates green spaces with affordable housing. His TEDx talk "The Forests of the Future" explains his vision for nature-based solutions to urbanization challenges.