In 2022, Savimbo started in the Colombian Amazon, born directly out of the urgent need to stop deforestation and create a viable alternative to destructive industries like mining, logging, oil, and narcotrafficking. What makes Savimbo different? It was founded by Indigenous leaders, not outside NGOs. Their goal was bold, build a for-profit green economy that puts power (and profit) into the hands of those actually protecting the land. In this video, Dr. Adrien Labaeye, Transformation Catalyst, presents Savimbo, the winning solution for the “Sustainable Ecosystem Management” I4N Award 2024.
A New Model: Fair, Direct, and Indigenous-Led
Savimbo pays Indigenous Peoples and subsistence farmers to preserve ecosystems in tropical forests. No middlemen. No strings attached. Just direct payments for maintaining biodiversity and carbon-rich forests. If communities need support joining the program, Savimbo’s nonprofit arm helps cover the cost of entry and setup, even the most remote, off-grid groups can participate.
Once onboard:
- They certify biodiversity and climate credits
- Sell them internationally
- And share the revenue directly with land stewards
- This creates real economic value for conservation and provides an alternative to illegal or extractive economies.
How They Do It: Tech + Trust + Training
Savimbo blends cutting-edge tech with grassroots training:
- Drone photography
- Satellite monitoring
- Machine learning
- Blockchain
- GPS tracking
All of this is used to monitor and verify ecosystem protection, from on-the-ground actions to the sale of certified credits. Local farmers and Indigenous communities are trained to track their own impact using simple, off-grid tools built on trusted methodologies. It’s not about outsiders checking up—it’s about empowering locals to lead.
Global Impact, Local Control
Savimbo’s vision is big: Work with 1 million local stewards to halt deforestation across the Amazon and beyond. Governments (like Mongolia) are already asking how to bring this model to their own ecosystems. Savimbo isn’t a charity. It’s a new infrastructure for life, led by the people who’ve been defending the forest for generations.
“We’re not asking for help. We’re asking to be paid—for managing the planet’s most valuable infrastructure: nature.”
More information on I4N Award and Savimbo.
See more videos of Innovate 4 Nature (I4N) and the award winners: here.
