Juan Carlos Gutierrez

Ecuadorian environmentalist leading rainforest conservation through indigenous partnerships

Juan Carlos Gutiérrez is an Ecuadorian biologist whose work has transformed rainforest conservation in the Amazon basin. As director of The Amazon Conservation Consortium, he pioneered the Indigenous Guardian Program, which employs over 300 local community members as forest rangers. This initiative reduced illegal logging in protected areas by 70% between 2015-2022.

His innovative Forest Carbon Credits Program allows indigenous communities to earn income while preserving ecosystems. This model has been replicated in Peru and Colombia. In 2020, Gutiérrez launched the Amazon Biotech Initiative, developing medical applications for traditional plant knowledge that now holds 14 international patents.

His work with NASA on satellite monitoring systems enabled real-time deforestation tracking across 12 million hectares. Gutiérrez's recent collaboration with the European Union created the first blockchain-based platform for tracking sustainable timber production. Over 150,000 hectares of rainforest have been preserved through his programs, directly benefiting 80+ indigenous communities.