Ximena Florez

Colombian environmental leader driving reforestation in Amazon basin through indigenous partnerships

Ximena Florez is a Colombian biologist and founder of Bosques de la Salud, an organization revitalizing 100,000+ hectares of Amazon rainforest through innovative community-based methods. Her 2021 initiative Amazonia Viva created the world's first carbon credit system directly managed by indigenous communities, generating $2.5M in revenue for local groups by 2024.

Working with 15+ ethnic groups including the Huitoto and Bora peoples, Ximena developed seed banks preserving 800+ native plant species. Her National Geographic feature details how her approach combines traditional knowledge with satellite monitoring for reforestation. In 2023, she secured EU funding to expand operations into Peru and Brazil.

Ximena's documentary series 'Guardians of the Green Heart' trained 500+ youth as forest rangers. Her 2024 climate resilience program helped 300+ villages adopt agroforestry practices, increasing crop yields by 40%. She was named Latin America's 2022 Sustainability Innovator by Forbes.