Juan Pablo Isaza

Colombian environmentalist leading global reforestation efforts through social media

Juan Pablo Isaza is a Colombian environmental scientist whose innovative use of social media has mobilized over 3 million volunteers worldwide since 2020. His initiative #ReforestateNow began as a TikTok campaign that evolved into a global movement planting 200 million trees across deforested regions in Latin America and Africa by 2024. His viral videos demonstrating low-cost tree-planting techniques have been viewed over 500 million times on platforms like TikTok and Instagram.

In 2022, Isaza launched the "Forest Guardian" app which uses AI to track reforestation progress through satellite imagery. The app's open-source platform now supports 15 countries including Brazil, Indonesia and Kenya. His partnership with Greenpeace led to the Amazon Rainforest Protection Initiative, which secured $50 million in international funding.

Isaza's most groundbreaking contribution is the development of "BioBricks" - biodegradable seed pods that require no water for planting. Distributed through UNESCO's Global Seed Network, these pods have enabled tree planting in arid regions like the Sahara Desert. His 2023 documentary "Rooted in Hope" won an Emmy for Best Environmental Documentary.

He created the Youth Climate Corps in 2021, a program training young people in climate action strategies. This initiative has empowered over 50,000 youth leaders in 80+ countries through partnerships with UN Youth Envoy. In 2024, he was appointed as youngest UN Environment Programme Goodwill Ambassador.

Isaza's approach combines grassroots activism with tech innovation. His TED Talk "Reforesting the Planet One Pod at a Time" has 3.2 million views. His work directly contributed to Colombia's 2025 law requiring 20% of corporate profits to fund environmental projects.