Jesús Enriquez

Peruvian environmental activist leading Amazon rainforest protection campaigns since 2020

Jesús Enriquez is an indigenous Shipibo-Konibo environmental leader from Peru, recognized for his relentless advocacy against illegal logging and mining in the Amazon rainforest. Since 2020, his grassroots organization Amazon Frontlines has mobilized over 50 Indigenous communities to defend 12 million hectares of ancestral territories through legal battles, direct action, and international diplomacy.

Enriquez gained global attention in 2021 when his coalition blocked a controversial highway project threatening the pristine Yavarí River Basin. His strategy combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern advocacy techniques, including satellite monitoring systems to detect illegal activities. By 2023, his efforts had led to the revocation of 34 illegal mining concessions and the establishment of two new protected areas.

Enriquez's work intersects with global climate goals as the Amazon's fate directly impacts the planet's carbon balance. He co-authored the Peruvian Amazon Conservation Plan 2030, presented at COP26, and was featured in National Geographic's 'Guardians of the Amazon' documentary series. His leadership was honored with the 2023 Goldman Environmental Prize, cementing his status as a pivotal voice in Indigenous-led environmental justice. Through partnerships with organizations like Amazon Watch, he continues building transnational alliances to protect the Amazon's ecological and cultural heritage.