For generations, Indigenous peoples have cared for these lands, carrying wisdom that sustains life. But now, as COP30 approaches, the Amazon is at a crossroads. And so is humanity.

While exact stats are unknown, what we already know is alarming. The World Resources Institute reports that between 2001 and 2020, mining wiped out 170,000 hectares of forest in Brazil’s Amazon. More recently, Greenpeace revealed that in just the past two years, illegal gold mining has destroyed over 4,000 hectares across four Indigenous territories. Scientists warn that if 20–25% of the forest is lost, the Amazon could tip from being one of the world’s greatest carbon sinks to a dangerous carbon source. The fallout would be devastating: accelerating climate change, throwing global weather systems off balance, and causing irreversible biodiversity loss in a region that is home to 1 in 10 of all species on Earth. At the current pace, experts fear we could hit that tipping point as early as 2050.

At the centre of its protection are the Forest’s original Guardians: Indigenous peoples. Protecting their lands and rights is essential if we are to protect the Amazon, and with it, the planet.

We Are All Forests is a campaign from the people of the Amazon. Supported by global cultural leaders and visionary organisations, the campaign amplifies diverse voices, from elders and healers to youth leaders and community organisers.

Fundamentally, it’s a campaign about nature and ourselves. Think of it as an invitation to inspire the reforestation of the Amazon and to reforest our hearts and souls.

We Are All Forests bridges Indigenous peoples of the Amazon with the wider world, sharing their culture, spirituality, knowledge and urgent calls for action. Indigenous communities are not only resisting destruction, they are leading the way toward solutions. Their cosmologies, languages, music, and art reveal a worldview where everything is connected: people, animals, plants, rivers, and skies.

At the heart of this movement is traditional and sustainable craft, a living expression of cultural identity and connection to nature. By supporting Indigenous craftsmanship, we strengthen culture, provide livelihoods and enable communities to remain on their lands as protectors of the forest.

The symbol of this campaign is the Amazonia #TOGETHERBAND. Handcrafted by the Yawanawá people deep in the forest, each band is made from the seeds of açai berries, Parley Ocean plastic thread, and a single Humanium bead cast from recycled illegal firearm metal – transforming weapons of violence into symbols of peace.

This is an inclusive bioeconomy in action: uniting creativity with conservation and cultural pride with financial resilience. Each band supports Indigenous-led conservation and provides sustainable livelihoods for artisans.

Our shared goal is bold: to create livelihoods for 5,000 Indigenous artisans by 2030, impacting over 30,000 community members.

Now is the time for solidarity, not silence. As COP30 approaches, Indigenous voices must be at the heart of global decision-making. Excluding them endangers the survival of the planet itself.

We Are All Forests is a call to:

• Defend Indigenous land rights.

• Support reforestation and community-led conservation.

• Empower Indigenous artisans through inclusive bioeconomy.

• Learn from ancestral knowledge systems.

• Demand that Indigenous voices shape climate policy.

We shouldn’t need to be reminded that if the Amazon falls, so do we.

#TOGETHER we can protect the forest, empower Indigenous communities and reforest our souls.•

Born in Acre, the daughter of rubber-tappers, Marina’s life-work has been defence of the forest—from grassroots organising to shaping environmental policy in Congress and presidential cabinets. Her feed balances eco-policy snapshots, forest photos, and personal reflections grounded in land justice.