News
Musician Cimafunk Teams Up With the Amazon Conservation Team
The Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is proud to announce Afro-Cuban musician Cimafunk has joined the organization as an official ambassador. In this role, the internationally acclaimed artist will help spotlight the work ACT is doing to protect the Amazon rainforest and support Indigenous and local communities across South America. Cimafunk, a Grammy-nominated musician whose genre-defying…
Read MoreThe Heart of the World: Conservation in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in northern Colombia is the highest coastal mountain range on Earth. Just 25 miles from the Caribbean Sea, its snowcapped peaks rise dramatically from the coastline, creating a uniquely stunning landscape that holds profound spiritual and cultural meaning for the Indigenous Peoples of the region. For the Kogui, Arhuaco,…
Read MoreTraining Community Rangers to Protect the World’s Greenest Country
At the airport in Suriname’s capital city, travelers are greeted by a sign beneath a vibrant photo of frogs, parrots, and other rainforest creatures. It reads: “Welcome to Suriname: The most forested country in the world.” Tucked on the northeastern edge of South America, the former Dutch colony is the continent’s smallest country by both…
Read MoreAncestral Tides Annual Report
Sea turtles are living ambassadors from a deep and distant past. For Indigenous cultures along the coast, these ancient, 100 million-year-old creatures embody wisdom, endurance, and the power of creation. Through our Ancestral Tides program, the Amazon Conservation Team partners with Indigenous and local communities to protect sea turtles and the coastal ecosystems they call…
Read MoreThe Lost City, Hallucinogens, & Shamans
The Plants of the Gods Podcast, hosted by renowned ethnobotanist and ACT President and Co-Founder Dr. Mark Plotkin, is back June 4 for its seventh season! The first episode delves into the enduring allure of lost cities—a captivating blend of mystery, adventure, and the promise of forgotten knowledge. Mark recounts his journey as part of…
Read MoreColombia Embraces Indigenous Health as National Policy
Last month, in a historic act, Colombia’s national government formally adopted the Indigenous Intercultural Health System (SISPI) as national public policy by signing Decree 480. The President signed the decree alongside representatives from the Minga Indigena and other organizations from across Colombia. Indigenous organizations, Colombia’s Ministry of Health, and other state entities worked together for…
Read MoreA Return to Ulupuwene: Indigenous-Led Conservation in Brazil
Ulupuwene, within the Batovi Indigenous Territory of Brazil, has a special place in the heart of ACT. It is a small community of courageous Waura people, led by Chief and Pajé (shaman) Eleukah and his wife Kapi, who is also a powerful shaman. We met a little over two decades ago, and since then, together,…
Read MoreMeet the Amazon Tapir: The Rainforest’s Gentle Giant
Every April 27, we celebrate World Tapir Day—a chance to shine a spotlight on one of the Amazon’s most unique and underappreciated animals: the tapir. Often described as a cross between a pig and an anteater, the Amazon tapir (also known as the South American tapir or lowland tapir) is neither. In fact, its closest…
Read MoreFinding Climate Optimism in the Amazon this Earth Day
Earth Day, celebrated this Tuesday, is a global reminder to reflect on the health of our planet. And right now, there’s no sugarcoating it—the biosphere’s vital signs are concerning. The past decade has been the hottest on record. Droughts, wildfires, and hurricanes are growing more intense. The climate crisis feels more real than ever. But…
Read More“Intangible Zone” Documentary Highlights the Protection of Isolated Indigenous Peoples
Discover the upcoming documentary Intangible Zone, focusing on the protection of the isolated Yuri-Passé people in the Colombian Amazon. Directed by Greg Méndez López, this film highlights the importance of safeguarding Indigenous cultures and the Amazon ecosystem. Join the sneak preview screening with insights from the director and experts.
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