Ricardo Lozano

Colombian environmentalist and founder of the Amazon Rainforest Guardians initiative protecting indigenous territories

Ricardo Lozano (b. 1972) is a Colombian biologist and environmental activist whose work has been pivotal in protecting over 12 million hectares of Amazon rainforest since the early 2000s. As director of the Amazon Rainforest Guardians, he pioneered community-based conservation models that empower indigenous groups to manage their ancestral lands. His 2003 collaboration with the Miraña and Tikuna tribes established the first co-managed reserve system in the Colombian Amazon.

Lozano's innovative GeoGuardian satellite monitoring system uses AI to detect illegal logging and mining activities in real-time, reducing deforestation rates by 40% in protected areas. His 2015 book 《The Forest Speaks》 documents traditional ecological knowledge of Amazonian tribes, becoming a key resource for conservationists globally.

His advocacy led to the 2018 creation of Colombia's Indigenous Territories Conservation Program, which now covers 23% of the national Amazon region. In 2021, Lozano was featured in National Geographic's "Last Stands" series for his work preventing illegal gold mining in the Yurúa River basin. He currently trains youth leaders through the Amazon Youth Ranger Program, which has graduated over 800 environmental stewards.