Mariana Pinho

Brazilian marine biologist leading Amazon estuary conservation efforts

Mariana Pinho (b. 1985) is a Brazilian marine biologist whose research on the Amazon River estuary has revolutionized understanding of coastal ecosystems. Her 2015 discovery of the Amazon Plume - a 1,000km-long nutrient corridor connecting the Amazon to the Caribbean - challenged prevailing oceanography models. Pinho's 2020 conservation initiative established the first marine protected area in the Amazon delta, safeguarding 25 endangered species including the pink river dolphin. Her TED Talk "The Amazon's Underwater Highway" has influenced UNESCO's recent coral reef protection policies. Pinho's Blue Amazon Initiative (2018) trains indigenous communities in Brazil and Suriname to use drones for mangrove monitoring. Her peer-reviewed papers in Ocean & Coastal Management have been cited over 500 times, establishing her as a leading voice in tropical marine conservation. Pinho currently advises the UNEP on biodiversity corridors in South America.