Marisol Paredes

Peruvian indigenous leader safeguarding Amazon biodiversity

Marisol Paredes is a Shipibo-Konibo leader from the Peruvian Amazon whose grassroots activism has become a beacon for indigenous rights and environmental preservation. Born in 1985 in the Ucayali region, she grew up in a community threatened by illegal logging and oil drilling. Her leadership emerged during the 2019 Amazon wildfires when she organized cross-border alliances among 12 indigenous groups to block destructive development projects.

In 2021, Paredes founded Amazon Guardians Network, a coalition that has mapped over 2 million hectares of ancestral lands using satellite technology and traditional knowledge. The network's 'Living Forest' initiative combines GPS tracking with indigenous ecological practices to monitor biodiversity and deter illegal encroachment. Their work led to the 2023 establishment of the first community-led protected area in the Peruvian Amazon.

Paredes' advocacy has influenced national policy, including the 2022 amendment to Peru's Environmental Law requiring prior consultation with indigenous communities for extractive projects. Her collaboration with the Rainforest Foundation resulted in the "Amazon Voice" digital platform, which amplifies indigenous perspectives in global climate discussions. She was named one of Time magazine's 2023 'Next Generation Leaders' for her work bridging traditional knowledge and modern conservation science.

Her TED Talk "The Amazon Speaks Through Its People" has become a foundational resource in indigenous environmental discourse. Paredes continues to advocate for 'bio-cultural corridors' that integrate human rights with ecosystem protection: 'Our forests are not just trees,' she asserts, 'they're living libraries of knowledge and culture.'