What Amazon Conservation Team does

Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 by ethnobotanist Dr. Mark Plotkin and conservationist Liliana Madrigal, with headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. Its mission is to protect the Amazon rainforest in partnership with Indigenous and local communities across Brazil, Colombia, Suriname, Costa Rica, and the Guianas, using a rights-based, community-led model that prioritizes Indigenous territorial rights, leadership, and traditional knowledge over top-down conservation templates.

ACT delivers outcomes through a portfolio of conservation programs rather than a unified product. Field initiatives include the Amazon Conservation Rangers program (community-based environmental monitoring with 39 active rangers across eight Suriname villages as of 2022), the Shamans & Apprentices Program (preserving traditional medicinal knowledge since 1997), Biocultural Mapping (co-creating cartographic records with Indigenous and Maroon communities covering ~10 million hectares in Suriname alone), the Ancestral Tides marine conservation initiative launched in 2019, Amazonian Honey sustainable livelihoods, the One Health program, and the Indigenous Leadership Fellowship Program launched in 2017 with Universidad Externado de Colombia. Technology infrastructure is built on the Esri ArcGIS platform (including ArcGIS StoryMaps and Living Atlas data layers), GPS/camera-trap/drone field monitoring, and KoboToolbox for structured data collection.

ACT is funded entirely through donations, grants, and charitable contributions from individuals, foundations, and corporate partners (e.g., Chantecaille), with no product revenue. It holds a Candid Platinum Transparency recognition (2026) and Charity Navigator Four-Star rating. Distribution is direct-to-community via Regional Directors in each country plus formal international coordination through ACT's role as Technical Secretariat of GTI-PIACI (21 Indigenous organizations across 8 countries). Notable milestones: Colombian Constitutional Court upholding Decree 1275 of 2024, COP30 participation in Belém (November 2025), the 2025 Esri ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition win, and 339,574 acres of Indigenous territories legalized or expanded in Colombia during 2025 alone.

Name

Amazon Conservation Team

Legal name

Amazon Conservation Team

Website

https://amazonteam.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1996

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 1996 that partners with 400+ Indigenous and local communities across Brazil, Colombia, Suriname, Costa Rica, and the Guianas to protect Amazon rainforest and Indigenous territories through biocultural mapping, community-based environmental monitoring, and rights-based conservation programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Environmental Conservation Services

NAICS

Environment, Conservation and Wildlife Organizations (813312), Support Activities for Forestry (1153)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600), Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Biodiversity & Habitat Conservation (BPAGAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Community Forestry & Indigenous Land Stewardship Services (IMAMAJAM), Ecosystem Services & Natural Capital Programs (Water, Biodiversity Credits, PES) (IMAMAJAK)

Keywords

• Indigenous conservation
• Forest preservation
• Biocultural mapping
• Community ranger programs
• Land rights advocacy

Headquarters

HQ city

Arlington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: ACT is a nonprofit organization that relies on donations from individuals, foundations, and organizations. The organization is tax-exempt and has received platinum transparency recognition from Candid. Major supporters include various foundations and corporate partnerships.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that partners with Indigenous and Maroon communities in Brazil, Colombia, Suriname, the Guianas, and Costa Rica to protect tropical forests, expand indigenous territories, and preserve traditional knowledge and livelihoods through field conservation programs, community ranger training, participatory biocultural mapping, marine conservation, and capacity-building initiatives.

Product overview

Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is a conservation nonprofit organization, not a traditional tech product company. ACT operates a portfolio of conservation programs and initiatives focused on partnering with Indigenous communities to protect tropical forests. The core offerings include: (1) Field conservation programs such as Ancestral Tides (marine conservation), Amazonian Honey (sustainable beekeeping), One Health (holistic health approach), and Isolated Indigenous Peoples protection; (2) Community capacity-building initiatives including Amazon Conservation Rangers (ACRs), Biocultural Mapping, Shamans & Apprentices Program, and the Indigenous Leadership Fellowship Program; (3) Digital storytelling platforms including StoryMaps documenting conservation work and Indigenous territories. ACT does not offer a unified software product but rather delivers conservation outcomes through direct community partnerships, field programs, and digital advocacy content.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ancestral Tides: Marine conservation initiative protecting sea turtles and coastal ecosystems in partnership with Indigenous communities from Mexico to Colombia.
• Amazonian Honey Program
• One Health: Communities & Forests
• Isolated Indigenous Peoples Program
• Amazon Conservation Rangers (ACRs)

Products and services

• Ancestral Tides Marine conservation initiative partnering with Indigenous communities from Mexico to Colombia to protect sea turtles, coastal ecosystems, and wetlands.
• Amazonian Honey Sustainable stingless bee keeping and honey production program supporting Indigenous and rural communities in Suriname and Colombia, combining conservation with sustainable livelihoods.
• One Health: Communities & Forests Holistic health approach connecting human well-being, ecosystem health, and ancestral knowledge, integrating public health, environmental protection, and traditional medicine practices.
• Isolated Indigenous Peoples Program Technical Secretariat work for GTI-PIACI (International Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact) to protect territories and advocate for the rights of isolated peoples across the Amazon.
• Amazon Conservation Rangers (ACRs) Community-based environmental monitoring program training Indigenous and Maroon community members to track biodiversity, environmental pressures, and water quality using satellite imagery and field tools, with stations across Suriname's forests.
• Biocultural Mapping Facilitating the creation of biocultural maps with Indigenous and Maroon communities to record history, biological resources, and traditional knowledge of their territories. ACT has helped partner communities map approximately 10 million hectares in Suriname.
• Shamans & Apprentices Program Program preserving the transmission and ongoing practice of indigenous medicine based on healers' encyclopedic knowledge of local flora, including traditional medicine clinics and apprenticeships.
• Indigenous Leadership Fellowship Program Scholarship program supporting Indigenous university students through mentorship, peer support, and community leadership training, in partnership with Universidad Externado de Colombia.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2.9 million acres of indigenous reserve expansions and constitutions
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered minor, major and core.

• Earth Stewardship JournalminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Academic journal where ACT co-authored a letter calling on academia to meaningfully support Indigenous science and biocultural conservation alongside Indigenous and non-Indigenous colleagues from research institutions and NGOs.
• ChantecaillemajorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2025Beauty brand partnership where Chantecaille's Flamingo Collection gives back a portion of proceeds to ACT for flamingo conservation work with the Wayúu Indigenous community in Colombia.
• Universidad Externado de ColombiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017ACT launched the Indigenous Leadership Fellowship Program in 2017 in partnership with Universidad Externado. The scholarship program supports Indigenous university students through mentorship, peer support, and community leadership training, connecting them with international institutions such as OAS and UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues.
• GTI-PIACI (International Working Group on Indigenous Peoples in Isolation and Initial Contact)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerACT serves as the Technical Secretariat of GTI-PIACI, an international working group of 21 Indigenous organizations from Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Together they work to protect isolated indigenous peoples' territories and advocate for their rights at international forums including COP16.
• EsrimajorTechnology or IntegrationACT uses Esri's ArcGIS platform and StoryMaps technology to create interactive digital maps documenting indigenous territories and conservation work. The 'A Fight for Survival' StoryMap won the 2025 Environment category of the ArcGIS StoryMaps Competition.
• Re:wildmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting ACT's ranger program in Suriname, including the opening of the sixth ranger station in Sipaliwini Nature Reserve.
• UNDP Sustainable Landscape Program for the AmazonmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner supporting ACT's conservation work and ranger program expansion in Suriname.
• Suriname Conservation FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal conservation foundation partnering with ACT on ranger program and protected area management in Suriname.
• DoB EcologyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerConservation partner supporting ACT's ranger program in Suriname.
• Organization of American States (OAS)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational institution connected to ACT's Indigenous Leadership Fellowship Program, providing opportunities for fellowship recipients.
• UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous IssuesmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUN body connected to ACT's Indigenous Leadership Fellowship Program, providing international platforms for indigenous youth leaders.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Conservation International: One of the largest global conservation NGOs, with deep Amazon footprint and corporate-funded conservation finance. ACT's co-founder Dr. Mark Plotkin previously served as VP here, making it a direct institutional predecessor and comparable peer in mission and Amazon focus, though far larger in scale.
• The Nature Conservancy: One of the world's largest environmental nonprofits with major Amazon and Latin America programs and a market-based approach to conservation finance including carbon credits. Comparable to ACT in mission but operates at much larger scale with sophisticated earned-revenue streams.
• World Wildlife Fund (WWF): Global conservation giant operating across all major biomes including the Amazon. ACT's co-founder Dr. Plotkin previously served as Director of Plant Conservation at WWF. WWF shares ACT's species and habitat focus but at vastly larger scale and broader geographic mandate.

Direct peers

• Forest Peoples Programme: UK-based NGO supporting forest-dependent indigenous peoples' rights globally, including in the Amazon. Highly comparable indigenous-rights-and-forest-conservation mission, particularly relevant to ACT's GTI-PIACI and territorial-rights work.
• Amazon Watch: Indigenous-rights-focused nonprofit operating across the same Amazon basin countries as ACT (Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador). Highly comparable mission around indigenous land rights, territorial protection, and policy advocacy; smaller in scale than ACT but more advocacy-focused.
• Wildlife Conservation Society: Global wildlife and habitat conservation nonprofit with significant field presence in Latin America and Suriname/Guianas region overlapping with ACT's geography. Operates ranger and protected-area programs similar to ACT's Amazon Conservation Rangers model.
• Rainforest Trust: Conservation nonprofit focused on purchasing and protecting threatened rainforests, including in the Amazon basin. Comparable in mission and Latin America focus but operates primarily through land purchase/protection rather than ACT's indigenous-led stewardship model.
• Re:wild: Global wildlife and habitat conservation nonprofit that is an active partner of ACT in Suriname (supporting the ranger program and Sipaliwini Nature Reserve). Directly comparable species-and-habitat focus with overlapping field operations in ACT's geographies.
• Rainforest Foundation Norway / Rainforest Foundation US: Sister organizations supporting indigenous and traditional peoples' land rights in tropical forest countries, including Amazon basin. Strongly comparable model combining rights advocacy with on-the-ground community support; Rainforest Foundation Norway is significantly larger in scale.

Regional players

• Suriname Conservation Foundation: Local conservation foundation partnering with ACT on ranger program and protected-area management in Suriname. Smaller and Suriname-focused, providing a national-scale comparator for ACT's Suriname operations.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/amazonteamorg
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCN7P8Z0eBlZrecVsAiNNj6w
• Facebookfacebook.com/AmazonTeamOrg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/amazon-conservation-team

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Amazon Conservation Team