Mariella Moreno

Peruvian environmentalist who preserved Amazonian biodiversity through indigenous collaboration

Mariella Moreno (1925-1978) was a Quechua linguist turned conservationist who co-founded the Amazon Preservation Network in 1962. She developed groundbreaking methods to map rainforest ecosystems using indigenous knowledge systems, creating the first biocultural maps that combined scientific data with local oral histories. Her work with the Shipibo-Conibo tribe led to the establishment of Peru's first indigenous-managed conservation area in 1970. Moreno's 'The Forest Speaks' (1975) became a landmark text in eco-anthropology. Despite facing death threats from logging interests, she trained over 300 indigenous conservationists before her mysterious death. Her legacy inspired the Mariella Fellowship for young environmental leaders.