From “green hell” to global treasure: amazon expert reflects on 40 years of rainforest conservation

Renowned ethnobotanist Mark Plotkin has spent over four decades studying the medicinal plants and indigenous peoples of tropical South America, giving him a unique perspective on the Amazon’s conservation journey. When asked about the rainforest’s current status, his response is characteristically pragmatic: “By definition, any glass that is half-full is half-empty.”

Plotkin’s career spans a remarkable transformation in how the world views the Amazon. When he first ventured into the rainforest in the 1970s, most people considered it a “green hell” to be avoided or conquered. This perception began shifting dramatically thanks to the emerging environmental movement, sparked by milestones like Rachel Carson’s “Silent Spring” in 1962 and the first Earth Day in 1970. These events awakened global awareness about deforestation, pollution, and species extinction.

A coalition of scientists—including Americans Tom Lovejoy, Richard Schultes, and E.O. Wilson, alongside Brazilian researchers Marcio Ayres, Paulo Nogueiro-Neto, and Paulo Vanzolini—played a crucial role in reframing the Amazon’s image. They successfully argued that tropical forests deserved as much conservation attention as temperate ecosystems, repositioning Amazonia from a “green hell” into a recognized “treasure trove of biodiversity.”

Media coverage also proved instrumental in this transformation, as images of vast burning and clearing operations—turning lush green landscapes into barren red deserts through poorly planned development projects—shocked global audiences. As the world prepares for COP30, Plotkin’s decades of experience offer valuable insights into both the progress made and challenges that remain in protecting this irreplaceable ecosystem.