Fernando Cortez

A Colombian conservationist leading efforts to protect Amazon rainforests through indigenous partnerships.

Fernando Cortez: Guardian of the Amazon’s Heart

Fernando Cortez, a Colombian biologist, has dedicated his career to preserving the Amazon rainforest by collaborating with Indigenous communities. Born in 1988 in Leticia, Colombia, his early years among the Tukano people ignited his passion for ecology. After earning a PhD in tropical biology (2015), he co-founded Amazon Bridge, an organization bridging scientific research and Indigenous knowledge.

Cortez’s approach prioritizes community-led conservation. In 2020, he helped establish the Yuruparí Protected Area, a 1.2 million-hectare reserve managed by the Tukano and Cubeo tribes. This model has reduced illegal logging by 70% in the region and inspired similar initiatives in Peru and Brazil. His 2022 book, The Amazon’s Living Library, documents Indigenous ecological practices and their global relevance.

In 2023, Cortez pioneered the Rainforest Guardian Network, using satellite technology and Indigenous patrols to monitor deforestation in real time. The system, funded by the European Union, has led to over 150 arrests of illegal loggers. He also advocates for Indigenous land rights, testifying before the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights in 2024 to halt a controversial hydroelectric project threatening ancestral lands.

Cortez’s global influence includes advising the WWF on Amazon conservation strategies and co-authoring the 2021 UN Amazon Basin Report. His TEDx talk “The Forest Speaks” (2023) has been viewed over 2 million times, amplifying calls for Indigenous sovereignty.

Beyond conservation, he promotes eco-tourism partnerships, ensuring communities profit from sustainable practices. His vision—combining traditional wisdom with modern science—offers a blueprint for preserving Earth’s largest rainforest amid climate crises.