Jairo Moreno

Colombian environmental activist fighting to protect Amazon rainforest communities

Jairo Moreno is a Colombian environmental leader whose work has profoundly impacted the preservation of the Amazon rainforest and its indigenous communities. Born in 1978 in Leticia, Colombia, he dedicated his life to protecting the Amazon after witnessing rampant deforestation and illegal mining activities. In 2003, he co-founded Amazon Conservation Team (ACT), an organization focused on empowering indigenous groups to manage their ancestral lands.

Moreno pioneered the concept of 'biocultural' conservation, recognizing the inseparable link between cultural preservation and environmental protection. Under his leadership, ACT helped establish over 20 indigenous territories in Colombia, Brazil, and Peru, protecting millions of hectares of rainforest. His efforts led to the creation of the WWF Colombia's Indigenous Territories Program, which now serves as a model for global conservation initiatives.

In 2015, he launched the Amazon Indigenous Leaders Fellowship, training over 300 young leaders in sustainable resource management. Despite receiving death threats from illegal logging groups, Moreno continues his advocacy through international campaigns and partnerships with organizations like Rainforest Foundation US.

His work has been documented in the award-winning documentary Rivers of the Amazon (2018), and he was named a Goldman Environmental Prize finalist in 2020. Moreno's legacy lies in proving that indigenous knowledge is essential to global ecological survival.