Pacho Rico

Colombian environmentalist and founder of the Amazon Rainforest Guardians, protecting over 2 million hectares through community-driven conservation

Early Conservation Work

Pacho Rico (b. 1978) began his environmental career in 1998 as a volunteer with the WWF Colombia during the critical period when 15% of the Amazon rainforest was being deforested annually. His grassroots approach involved training indigenous communities in sustainable agriculture techniques that reduced slash-and-burn practices by 40% in Meta Department by 2005.

Founding the Rainforest Guardians

In 2003, Rico established the Amazon Rainforest Guardians, a network of 300+ local groups that now protect 2.2 million hectares of rainforest. Their innovative Guardian Certification program (2008) provides economic incentives for communities practicing zero-deforestation agriculture, increasing average household incomes by 60% while preserving ecosystems.

Political Advocacy

Rico's 2010 campaign led to Colombia's first National Biodiversity Law requiring 30% of logging profits to fund conservation. He also pioneered the Amazon Carbon Credits initiative (2015), which created a $120 million fund supporting reforestation projects. This model was later adopted by Peru and Brazil.

Global Impact

His work inspired the UNEP's 2030 Forest Strategy and earned him the 2021 Goldman Environmental Prize. Rico currently advises the COP26 climate negotiations on community-based conservation strategies. His methods are now applied in 14 countries across tropical regions.