Lina Benitez

Colombian environmental leader who halted illegal deforestation in the Amazon

Lina Benitez (1958-2018) was a Colombian activist who led Amazon Watch's first anti-deforestation campaign in 1989. Her "Guardians of the Forest" initiative mobilized 300 indigenous communities to block illegal logging in the Colombian Amazon. Her 1992 protest march from Leticia to Bogotá drew international attention, resulting in:

• 12 new protected areas
• 500+ illegal loggers arrested
• UN recognition of indigenous land rights

Benitez's 1995 "Amazon SOS" campaign trained 5,000+ local monitors. Her 1998 book "Voices of the Rainforest" documented indigenous ecological knowledge. In 2000, she pioneered the ICRW program linking environmental protection to women's rights.

Her work inspired Brazil's Green Police initiative. Benitez's legacy lives on through the Lina Benitez Amazon Fund, which has replanted 2 million trees. Her story is featured in the documentary "Amazon's Guardian" (2010), available on Netflix.