Maria Aparecida Soares-Silva

Brazilian climate scientist advancing Amazon rainforest conservation

Maria Aparecida Soares-Silva is a Brazilian atmospheric scientist renowned for her research on Amazonian deforestation impacts. Born in 1972, she became a leading voice in global climate discussions during the 2000s, particularly after the 2005 Amazon drought highlighted the region's vulnerability. As a professor at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA), she developed groundbreaking models linking deforestation to regional climate patterns. Her studies revealed how forest loss accelerates droughts and threatens biodiversity, influencing the UN's 2010 REDD+ program. Soares-Silva's work with Indigenous communities, such as the Yawanawa people, integrates traditional ecological knowledge with scientific data. She co-authored the IPCC Sixth Assessment Report, emphasizing the Amazon's role as a global carbon sink. Despite political challenges under Brazil's recent administrations, she continues advocating for protected areas through NGOs like Amazon Watch. Her TED Talk The Amazon's Climate Crisis Is a Global Emergency has been translated into 15 languages. Soares-Silva's legacy includes mentoring female scientists in the Amazon basin, ensuring future generations can continue this critical work.