Sebastián López

Led Colombia's youth-driven rainforest conservation movement saving 1.2 million hectares

Sebastián López (b. 1998) is a Colombian environmental leader mobilizing youth to protect the Amazon. His 2022 campaign #GuardianesDeLaSelva united 500+ student groups across South America, resulting in the creation of the Amazon Youth Reserve - a 1.2 million hectare protected area spanning three countries. This initiative halted illegal logging in key biodiversity zones and established community-led eco-tourism ventures.

López's strategy combines traditional Indigenous knowledge with modern tech. His Rainforest Sentinel app uses AI to analyze satellite data and alert rangers to deforestation hotspots. The project partnered with UNEP to train 2,000 young forest guardians using augmented reality simulations.

His 2023 collaboration with Ecuador's Shuar community developed biodegradable fishing gear made from rainforest plants, reducing plastic pollution by 80% in local rivers. López's memoir Green Warriors: A Generation's Fight for the Amazon (2024) chronicles these efforts. He was named one of Time's 25 Most Influential Teens in 2023.