Juan Carlos López

Revitalized traditional farming practices to combat deforestation in the Amazon

Amazon Guardian

Juan Carlos López (b. 1990) is a Peruvian agroecologist leading the Raíces Vivas initiative since 2020. Combining ancestral Quechua farming techniques with modern agroforestry, he helps Amazon communities transition from destructive monocultures to biodiverse food forests. His methods increase crop yields by 40% while sequestering carbon at 3x the rate of conventional systems.

Community Impact

Working with over 80 indigenous communities, Juan's program has restored 12,000 hectares of degraded land by 2024. His Forest Schools train young leaders in sustainable practices, creating 3,000+ green jobs. The UNDP cited his work as a model for climate resilience.

Cultural Preservation

Juan's approach integrates traditional knowledge systems, recently documented in the Amazon Cultures Digital Archive. His advocacy led to Peru's 2022 Indigenous Agroecology Law, protecting ancestral agricultural rights.