Diego Ortiz

Colombian environmentalist who pioneered rainforest conservation through community-led ecotourism

Diego Ortiz is a visionary conservationist who transformed Colombia's Amazon region through innovative community-based strategies. Born in 1978 in Leticia, he founded the Amazonia Vital Foundation in 1999, creating the first indigenous-led ecotourism network in the Colombian Amazon. His approach combines traditional knowledge with modern sustainability practices, establishing 12 protected reserves that safeguard 500,000 hectares of rainforest. Ortiz's work was critical during the 2016 peace accords, mediating between guerrilla groups and local communities to convert former conflict zones into conservation areas. His initiative Reserva Sabana employs over 300 indigenous guides, generating 40% of local income through eco-lodges and wildlife tours. Recognized with the 2010 Goldman Environmental Prize, his methods have reduced deforestation rates in project areas by 85%. Ortiz's collaboration with NASA's Earth Observing System introduced satellite monitoring systems now used across South America. His memoir Rainforest Warrior: A Decade Defending the Amazon details his 2007 confrontation with illegal loggers that resulted in a landmark court case. Today, his model is replicated in 15 countries through the Global Ecotourism Network, proving that conservation and economic development can coexist. The region's biodiversity now includes 14 newly discovered species directly linked to his protection efforts.