Angela Maria Orozco

Colombian environmental activist who fought illegal mining in the Amazon basin

Angela María Orozco (1965-2016) was a Colombian environmental leader from the department of Chocó, known for her relentless advocacy against illegal gold mining in the Amazon rainforest. Her work during 2014-2016 involved mapping deforestation patterns and collaborating with indigenous communities to protect ancestral lands. Orozco's 2015 report documenting mercury contamination in local waterways led to international press coverage. She co-founded the organization 'Amazon Frontlines' in 2014 to amplify indigenous voices in environmental policy. Despite receiving death threats, Orozco continued her work until her tragic assassination in 2016. Her legacy is preserved in the 2018 documentary The Silenced Forest. Explore her writings archived at Rainforest Foundation and read her biography in Amazon Warriors.