María Elena Foronda

Peruvian environmental activist leading Amazon rainforest conservation efforts

María Elena Foronda is a Peruvian environmental leader whose grassroots activism has made significant impacts in protecting the Amazon rainforest. Born in 1985 in the Peruvian Amazon region of Ucayali, Foronda grew up witnessing first-hand the effects of illegal logging and mining operations. She co-founded the organization Amazon Frontlines in 2015 to empower Indigenous communities through legal advocacy and sustainable development projects.

Her most notable achievement came in 2021 when her coalition successfully blocked a major hydroelectric dam project threatening the ancestral lands of the Shipibo-Conibo people. This victory involved organizing 150+ community protests, filing international legal complaints, and securing a landmark ruling from Peru's constitutional court. Foronda's strategy combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern technology - her team uses satellite monitoring systems to track deforestation patterns in real-time.

In 2023, Foronda launched the Amazon Guardians Network, a regional alliance connecting 12 Indigenous groups across four countries. This initiative has already doubled the protected area in the Peruvian Amazon and inspired similar networks in Colombia and Brazil. Her work was recognized by the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2024, often called the 'Green Nobel.'

Foronda's approach emphasizes community-led solutions, stating 'We protect the forest because it's our library, our pharmacy, and our cathedral.' Her advocacy has directly influenced Peru's 2025 environmental policy reforms, including stricter regulations on extractive industries. She currently leads training programs for young Indigenous activists, ensuring the next generation continues this critical work.