Eduardo Nakano

Pioneer of Amazon rainforest conservation through indigenous partnerships

Eduardo Nakano is a Peruvian biologist whose work with Amazon Conservation has protected over 2 million hectares of rainforest since 2008. He developed the first satellite monitoring system designed specifically for Amazonian ecosystems, creating real-time deforestation alerts for indigenous communities. His National Geographic-supported initiative trains local tribes in using drones and AI for forest surveillance.

Nakano's breakthrough came in 2014 with the Indigenous Guardians Program, which employs 800+ native people as forest rangers. This program reduced illegal logging in protected areas by 78% within three years. He co-created the 'Biodiversity Credit System', allowing companies to offset emissions by funding conservation projects directly managed by indigenous groups.

In 2019, Nakano launched the Amazon Data Hub, an open-source platform sharing environmental data with 34 Amazon Basin countries. His partnership with NASA produced the first 3D forest maps showing carbon storage capacities. His documentary "Voices of the Forest" (2020) won an Emmy for highlighting indigenous knowledge in conservation. Nakano's work has inspired similar programs in the Congo Basin and Borneo rainforests.