Francisco “Pacho” von Hildebrand of Gaia Amazonas believes the Amazon can still be saved—if Indigenous communities are empowered to protect it

In 2019, Carlos Nobre, a leading Brazilian scientist, published an open letter entitled "Amazon tipping point: Last chance for action.” If that article were published today, it might have to be titled, “No more chances” because the past five years have seen record-breaking drought throughout the region as well as record-breaking forest fires. 



Indeed, from a distance it looks like large parts of the rainforest are now tipping towards grasslands, with potentially devastating consequences for regional and global rain and weather patterns. Can what is still left—essentially the northern slice from the Atlantic to the Andes—be saved?



Francisco von Hildebrand (Pacho) thinks it can. As someone who essentially grew up in the Amazon and now as leader of Gaia Amazonas, he has a key role to play in the struggle to support the Indigenous people living in the Amazon who have the best chance to keep what’s left of the rainforest intact.   

 

Listen as Pacho explains why he believes the Amazon can still be saved. Tell us what you think.