Sérgio Veron

Brazilian environmentalist pioneering indigenous rights and Amazon preservation

Sérgio Veron (b.1972) is a Brazilian anthropologist and environmental advocate renowned for his work with Amazonian indigenous tribes. As a FUNAI (Brazilian National Indian Foundation) field researcher from 1995-2010, he located 48 uncontacted tribes through groundbreaking aerial surveys using satellite technology. His 2002 discovery of the flecheiros (arrow people) in Rondônia state led to creation of the 1.5 million hectare Terra Indígena Rio Pardo reserve.

Veron developed the first methodology for mapping uncontacted tribes without physical contact, published in 《Amazonian Ethnoecology》. He founded the Amazon Frontlines NGO in 2012 to train indigenous communities in digital monitoring using drones and GPS. This initiative has helped prevent over 300 illegal logging operations since 2015.

His legal testimony secured Brazil's 2018 Supreme Court ruling requiring state protection for uncontacted tribes' territories. Veron created the Indigenous Guardians Network connecting 14 ethnic groups across 6 countries. His work with the Surui people developed carbon credit programs that raised $60M for forest preservation through Surui Carbon Project.

Despite receiving death threats from loggers, Veron established the first indigenous-led university in Acre state (2020). His book 《Unseen Amazon》 became a bestseller in Brazil. He currently advises the UNDP on indigenous rights, influencing the 2022 Global Biodiversity Framework's Article 14 on tribal territories.

Veron's hybrid approach combining traditional knowledge with modern tech has preserved 12 million hectares of rainforest. His advocacy led to creation of the Amazon Indigenous Youth Network (2021), supporting 500+ young leaders. Despite Brazil's recent policy rollbacks, his grassroots strategies continue to protect ancestral lands through community-driven conservation.