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Oakland, CA – Today, the Board of Directors of Amazon Watch announced that Leila Salazar-López will become the new Executive Director of the international environmental and human rights organization effective immediately.
“Leila is an incredible leader both internally and externally. We are proud to have her at the helm of Amazon Watch directing our efforts to protect the Amazon and advance the rights of indigenous peoples, a mission that is more critical now than ever given the importance of the Amazon to global climate stability” said Richard Wegman, Amazon Watch Board Chair.
Salazar-López has been leading Amazon Watch as interim Executive Director since January 1, 2015. Prior to that, for over four years she served as Program Director overseeing the organization’s programs and campaigns to defend the Amazon and advance indigenous rights.
“I accept this responsibility with great passion and commitment to our work, our partners and all of our supporters around the world. I am humbled and excited to lead our organization during a critical time for the Amazon, indigenous peoples’ rights and global climate change,” said Salazar-López.
With over 15 years of experience working on international campaigns to defend the world’s rainforests in both the Amazon and Indonesia, Salazar-López brings strong leadership and a long-term commitment to the organization and its indigenous partners.
“The Amazon – the lungs and the heart of our planet – is falling ill due to human-driven industrial development such as deforestation, dams, mining, and fossil fuel extraction. If we want to defend our global climate, we must defend the Amazon. If we want to defend the Amazon, we must support indigenous rights and territories. We must listen to the visions of the elders, the voices of women and the statistics of the scientists and unite to keep fossil fuels in the ground from the Amazon to the Arctic. We must debunk the myth of large dams as clean energy while promoting renewable energy and solutions that promote life,” said Salazar-López.
Prior to her role as Program Director at Amazon Watch, Salazar-López was the Campaign Director of Rainforest Action Network’s Agribusiness Campaign, Clean Up Ecuador Campaign Organizer at Amazon Watch, Corporate Accountability Organizer at Global Exchange and a graduate of Green Corps. She was also a Tropical Ecology trip leader at Jatún Sacha Biological Station in the Ecuadorian Amazon, where she volunteered and first discovered her passion to defend the Amazon.
“After 18 years as Executive Director of Amazon Watch, I am proud to pass the torch to Leila. As a Campaigner, Director and Board Member, she has shown commitment to our work, our partners and the organization. Not only does Leila have experience and passion, but also the integrity to lead Amazon Watch to the next level,” said Atossa Soltani, Founder and Board President.
Portuguese translation by Diana Oliveira
