Gaia Amazonas

Many different rainforest conservation programme models have been carried out in the last few decades. International funding has poured into the region, but often with little effect. Martin von Hildebrand was one of the first to recognize the key role of indigenous communities in preserving their own environment. The Gaia Amazonas Foundation helps these communities gain control of their territories, livelihoods and development based on their traditional knowledge and cultural values.

Under von Hildebrand’s leadership, the foundation has secured 24.5 million hectares of Amazon rainforest from the Colombian government for the 60,000 indigenous inhabitants that live there. In addition, it has helped set up: 16 local indigenous organizations, with legal status and exercising local governance; 84 indigenous community schools; nine indigenous health programmes based on traditional medicine; and official spaces for negotiations between indigenous organizations and the government, which has led to the decentralization of state programmes and joint policy decisions.

Gaia Amazonas is also active in a number of networks, including the Consolidation of the Colombian Amazon (COAMA). Leading the Cooperation and Alliance in the North and West Amazon (CANOA) initiative, Gaia Amazonas has improved transboundary coordination between Brazilian and Venezuelan NGOs and indigenous organizations for the conservation of 62 million hectares of Amazon rainforest. The foundation is also a driving member of the Amazon Regional Articulation (ARA) initiative, which develops joint regional strategies to preserve the ecosystem and mitigate climate change. Gaia Amazonas has transferred its experience to several countries in Africa (Kenya, Ethiopia, Botswana, Ghana and South Africa) through the Gaia Foundation UK and the African Biodiversity Network.