Davi Kopenawa

Yanomami shaman and environmental leader protecting Amazon rainforest

Davi Kopenawa, also known as 'The Shaman of the Forest,' is a Yanomami leader from the Amazon rainforest who has become one of the most influential indigenous environmental activists globally. Since the early 2000s, he has been campaigning against illegal gold mining and deforestation in Brazil and Venezuela, which threaten both the Yanomami people and the planet's biodiversity. His efforts led to the creation of the Yanomami Indigenous Territory in 1992 - then the largest rainforest reserve in the world.

In the 2020s, Kopenawa intensified his advocacy through international media appearances and partnerships with organizations like Greenpeace and Rainforest Foundation. His 2021 UN speech "The Earth is Dying" received 12 million views, highlighting how indigenous knowledge systems provide vital climate solutions. He also co-founded the Amazon Indigenous Alliance, coordinating 40+ tribes across 6 countries.

His landmark book 《The Falling Sky》 (2013) has been translated into 15 languages and remains a key text on indigenous environmental philosophy. In 2023, he received the Goldman Environmental Prize and was named a Time Magazine 'Hero of the Environment.'

Kopenawa currently leads the Yanomami Health Program, combining traditional medicine with modern healthcare while fighting to protect 9.6 million acres of rainforest. His digital campaign #ListenToTheForest has mobilized global youth through social media platforms, blending ancestral wisdom with modern activism.