The Long Game: Forging the Amazon's Next Chapter

In June 1992, 179 nations made two pledges that still shape every international conservation agreement today, and thirty years later, the world's most important climate conference was held inside a tropical rainforest. What happens in those halls matters—but so does everything that happens after.

James Deutsch, CEO of Rainforest Trust, breaks down how a half-billion-dollar pledge helped catalyze the 30x30 target, why the Tropical Forests Forever Facility could fix a structural flaw in carbon finance, and where he sees the next window for real conservation progress.

Constanza Prieto Figelist, Legal Director for Latin America at the Earth Law Center, explains how a Peruvian court recognized the Marañón River as a subject of rights, and why four articles in Ecuador's constitution have stopped more destructive projects than years of protest ever could.

Catarina Nefertari of Amazônia de Pé was on the ground in Belém when COP30 arrived, and has spent years closing the distance between communities most affected by Amazon destruction and the rooms where decisions about its future are made.

This is the series finale of Rewilding Amazonia. The Amazon's next chapter is still being forged.

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TIMESTAMPS0:00 Introduction0:29 Rio 1992 & the road to COP301:45 James Deutsch (Rainforest Trust)4:03 The 30x30 pledge5:07 How private conservation finance works7:13 COP30 outcomes & the T Triple F9:37 US funding withdrawal11:23 Indigenous land rights12:42 Constanza Prieto (Earth Law Center)15:54 Criminalizing indigenous defenders17:52 Rights of Nature & the Marañón River case21:48 Catarina (Amazônia de Pé)23:27 Brazil's fossil fuel dilemma24:32 What COP30 delivered28:25 Series closing: 22 voices, 6 countries31:00 Call to action & outro

SUPPORTThis episode is supported by Rainforest Trust—protecting tropical forests and endangered wildlife since 1988. Through local partnerships, community engagement, and donor support, they've safeguarded over 66 million acres in almost 70 countries. Learn more at rainforesttrust.org.

CREDITSExecutive Producer & Host: Brooke MitchellAssociate Producer & Music Composer: Brad Parsons

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DISCLAIMERThe views expressed by guests are their own and don't n...

Chapters

• (00:00:03) - Rewilding Amazonia: When Policy Meets Reality