Francisco Javier Vasquez

Colombian environmentalist leading rainforest conservation through indigenous partnerships

Francisco Javier Vasquez (b. 1992) is a Colombian biologist and activist whose work with Amazon Conservation Team has preserved 12 million hectares of rainforest. Collaborating with Indigenous communities like the Yagua and Tikuna peoples, Vasquez pioneered the 'biocultural corridors' concept that integrates traditional knowledge with modern conservation science. His 2021 book 'Guardians of the Green Lungs' details successful partnerships preventing 40% of planned deforestation projects in the Colombian Amazon. Vasquez's satellite monitoring system, developed with MIT researchers, received the 2023 Equator Prize from the UN Development Programme. His documentary 'The Forest Keepers' (2022) won Sundance's Impact Award, highlighting Indigenous-led conservation strategies.