Maria Rizzo

Argentinian environmentalist leading community-based reforestation in deforested Patagonia

Maria Rizzo is the founder of Fundación Patagonia Natural, an organization that has restored over 1.2 million native trees in Argentina's Chubut province since 2015. Her work addresses the region's severe deforestation caused by industrial sheep farming, which destroyed 80% of original forests.

Rizzo pioneered participatory reforestation models engaging local Mapuche communities in planting native species like lenga and coihue trees. This approach not only restores ecosystems but also creates sustainable income through eco-tourism and non-timber forest products. Over 300 families now participate in tree-planting cooperatives managed through her foundation's mobile app.

Her innovative carbon credit program allows international corporations to fund reforestation efforts through blockchain-tracked offsets. This model has attracted partnerships with European energy companies seeking to offset emissions. Satellite data shows 15% increased rainfall in project areas since 2018, demonstrating restored hydrological cycles.

Rizzo's methodology was featured in Nature Sustainability and inspired similar projects in Chile's Aysén region. She received the 2019 Goldman Environmental Prize, often called the 'Green Nobel,' for her community-centered conservation approach.