INTRODUCING AMAZON WATCH
Environment & Indigenous Rights
INTRODUCING
AMAZON WATCH
August, 2020
The Amazon rainforest is the largest and most species-rich tropical rainforest in the world. It covers an area larger than the continental area of the United States, is home to one third of the world's plant and animal species and produces one fifth of all flowing freshwater.
Amazon Watch is an NGO founded in 1996 that is primarily concerned with the protection of the Amazon rainforest and the rights of the indigenous people living there. The protection of the Amazon is directly linked to the support of indigenous peoples, as it is a natural part of their culture to live in harmony with the environment and to preserve it accordingly. They work with the world's largest environmental organisations and collaborate against some of the world's largest companies. They give indigenous leaders a voice and enable them to stand up to those who threaten their territories in the name of profit. Every year, millions of hectares of our rainforest are protected from corporate and government interests through this kind of collaboration. They have already prevented major companies such as the oil company GeoPark from carrying out planned projects that would have been highly destructive to rainforests, indigenous peoples such as the Achuar, and the world at large.
It is our concern to support indigenous women in Guatemala, but also to contribute to the protection of people living in the Amazon and to counteract the ongoing destruction of the rainforest. With our voice we would like to draw attention to this breathtakingly beautiful region and support the incredibly essential work of Amazon Watch with every product sold.
LEILA SALAZAR-LÓPEZ
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AMazon watch
„In unity, we are building a global movement to act for the Amazon, Indigenous rights and climate justice. Our movement is intersectional and is rooted in principles and practices of solidarity, equity, justice, anti-racism and decolonization. Our movement recognizes that the systems that violate human rights also violate Mother Earth and need to be transformed. This is a turning point for humanity to come together to resist systems of oppression and exploitation and uplift visionary solutions to protect and restore the balance of nature and human rights.“