Amazon Indigenous Leaders Take Their Case to Vienna
Defenders from the Amazon are seeking a seat at the table in the global effort to tackle organized environmental crime.
Indigenous leaders from the Amazon are travelling to Vienna to call for a stronger voice in the international fight against organized crime.
Their message is clear: those who protect the forest must be part of the conversations that shape how environmental crime is confronted worldwide.
"Safeguarding Indigenous defenders is our strongest defense against environmental crime, and they must not be left to fight it alone," the delegation said.
The journey reflects a growing recognition that the people living closest to the Amazon are among its most effective guardians. Their knowledge, presence and daily vigilance help hold back the pressures that threaten one of the planet's most vital ecosystems.
By bringing their experience directly to an international stage, the leaders hope to ensure that global strategies are built with Indigenous communities, not around them.
The trip is part of the ongoing work of Amazon Watch, an Ecoflix partner, which supports Indigenous peoples and their efforts to defend their territories.
It is a hopeful step towards a future in which those on the front lines are given the support and standing they need to continue their work safely.
You can watch the story of the Amazon's Indigenous defenders and the fight to protect their forests.