Today, Amazon Watch turns 30. What began as a commitment to support frontline communities has grown into a global movement for rainforest protection, Indigenous rights, and climate justice.
One truth has only deepened over three decades: the most effective way to protect the Amazon is to stand with the Indigenous peoples who have defended these forests for generations. Our role is to accompany their struggles, support community-defined priorities, and amplify their voices and demands on the international stage. That means connecting front line territorial defense with global advocacy, research, and campaigns – and directly challenging the corporate practices and government policies driving rainforest destruction.
To mark our 30th anniversary, we are launching a year-long series of stories from Indigenous leaders and partners, alongside members of the Amazon Watch team, reflecting on the struggles, victories, and lessons that have shaped this movement.
We begin today, with the story of how it all started. Because the story of Amazon Watch has never been just about an organization. It is about the power of solidarity, and the enduring leadership of the Indigenous peoples who continue to defend the Amazon and our shared future.
