During a week when the world’s attention is fixed on climate action, a trio of powerful stories from the Amazon have converged to highlight the crucial role of Indigenous stewardship, innovative conservation finance, and international recognition in the ongoing battle to protect the world’s largest rainforest. From scientific research and government partnerships to prestigious awards, the Amazon’s defenders are showing that the future of the forest—and the planet—may depend on a blend of ancient wisdom and bold new approaches.
According to research published in Communications Earth and Environment and One Health, legally recognized Indigenous Territories (ITs) in the Amazon and Brazil’s Atlantic Forest act as a living barrier against a host of health threats. These protected lands, managed through traditional practices and collective governance, have been shown to dramatically reduce the incidence of respiratory, cardiovascular, and zoonotic diseases. The studies, which analyzed two decades of data from eight Amazonian countries, found that areas with robust forest coverage—especially those under Indigenous management—experience fewer health crises linked to wildfires and environmental degradation.
“The protection of ITs is more effective in municipalities that already have an average forest coverage,” explained Paula Prist, a researcher at the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as cited by SciDev.Net. The relationship isn’t simple: while forests buffer communities from the smoke and particulate matter of fires, habitat fragmentation can undermine these benefits. Where the forest is continuous and healthy, Indigenous management acts as a shield—reducing not only respiratory problems but also the spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria, leishmaniasis, hantavirus, and spotted fever.
The health impact is especially pronounced when Indigenous Territories cover more than 40% of a municipality. In these areas, the incidence of diseases spread by mosquitoes, ticks, and sandflies drops significantly. This includes illnesses such as Chagas disease and both cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. The science is clear: traditional land stewardship doesn’t just preserve trees, it protects human lives.
The Atlantic Forest, Brazil’s most degraded biome, offers a striking example of Indigenous resilience. Over the past 30 years, Indigenous Lands in this region lost only 1.2% of their vegetation, compared to a staggering 19.9% on private lands—despite representing just 0.81% of the biome. “Their collective and ancestral management allows them to preserve biodiversity, reduce the migration of synanthropic animals to urban areas, and control vector-borne diseases,” said Ana Filipa Palmeirim, a researcher at the Federal University of Pará (UFPA), as reported by SciDev.Net.
Researchers are now urging policymakers to formally recognize Indigenous Territories as vital public health infrastructure. “There are no healthy people in a sick land,” said Vanessa Anny, a professor at the Federal University of Roraima (UFRR). “Understanding this respectful relationship is essential to propose new attitudes and build a more balanced connection with the world.”
While Indigenous stewardship remains a cornerstone of Amazonian health and resilience, new financial and technological models are emerging to bolster these efforts. On September 22, 2025, during New York Climate Week, the government of Mato Grosso—Brazil’s third largest state and a key Amazonian stronghold—signed a landmark agreement with O.N.E. Amazon, a conservation finance initiative aiming to make forest preservation more profitable than deforestation.
The partnership, detailed by Business Wire and other outlets, marks a significant shift: by transforming forests, water, minerals, and cultural heritage into global assets, Mato Grosso and O.N.E. Amazon are betting that capital markets can be harnessed for conservation. The agreement focuses on Cristalino I and II State Parks and extends to all three of the state’s biomes: the Amazon, Pantanal, and Cerrado.
“We are thrilled to begin applying our O.N.E. Amazon’s model with the leadership of the State of Mato Grosso, a complete team that knows the importance of conservation, has the knowledge and is fully committed with this purpose,” said Rodrigo Veloso, Founder and CEO of O.N.E. Amazon. The initiative will fund sustainable tourism, promote integrated agricultural systems that conserve forests, and implement clean energy solutions. At its heart is the Internet of Forests (IoF™), a real-time ecological monitoring system powered by satellites, LiDAR, and ground sensors. This technology provides policymakers and investors with up-to-the-minute data, ensuring accountability and guiding future conservation finance mechanisms.
“The future depends on global partnerships in governance, technology, and nature. Mato Grosso is ready to serve as a living laboratory for this new model. With O.N.E. Amazon, we intend to connect production and preservation with global standards of certification, tokenization, and environmental blockchain,” said Mauren Lazzaretti, Mato Grosso’s Secretary of State for the Environment. Notably, 85% of the revenue from O.N.E. Amazon’s security digital assets will remain in Brazil, channeling resources directly into local development and resilience.
O.N.E. Amazon’s approach, which tokenizes forest hectares and creates nature-backed securities, is designed to make preservation financially competitive with deforestation. The model aims to correct the historic undervaluation of the Amazon by turning the forest’s “invisible services” into measurable, investable assets. By aligning global capital with conservation, the project hopes to provide long-term incentives for governments, communities, and investors to keep the forest standing.
Recognition of these diverse efforts—both ancient and cutting-edge—came to the fore this week as well, with the awarding of the second Thomas E. Lovejoy Prize to Martín von Hildebrand, an ethnologist and anthropologist who has spent five decades defending Indigenous rights and advancing Amazon conservation. The ceremony, held at the Wildlife Conservation Society’s Central Park Zoo during New York’s Climate Week, honored von Hildebrand’s pioneering work in legal protections for Indigenous territories and his founding of the Gaia Amazonas Foundation.
“Martín von Hildebrand embodies everything Tom Lovejoy believed about conservation leadership. Dr. Hildebrand's commitment to Indigenous wisdom, devotion to collaborative solutions, and fearless pursuit of conservation in the Amazon honors Tom's work and legacy. And today we are excited to honor him,” said Carter Roberts, president and CEO of WWF-US. Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy, added, “Martín’s lifelong dedication to defending Indigenous rights and protecting the Amazon rainforest reflects the very essence of this award—visionary leadership rooted in science, advocacy, and deep respect for nature and people.”
Von Hildebrand’s efforts have helped secure over 26 million hectares of Indigenous territories, building one of the world’s largest community-led conservation systems. His leadership has been recognized by the Colombian government, the Skoll Foundation, and the World Economic Forum. Reflecting on his journey, von Hildebrand said, “I never fully understood their culture, nor did they mine, but we built trust, held hands, walked together and changed the history of the region… If we truly want to live again with nature and avoid the destruction of our common home, we can find inspiration in their thought, it's a sophisticated wisdom for the present and for the future.”
As the Amazon faces mounting threats, these stories—of Indigenous guardianship, financial innovation, and global recognition—demonstrate that hope for the rainforest lies at the intersection of tradition and transformation. The world is watching, and the stakes have never been higher.
