At 74, Amazon Guardian Fights Daily Battle to Protect Indigenous Territory Despite Economic Hardships

Every morning at 7 a.m., Olegario Sánchez Pinto begins his patrol of San Martín de Amacayacu, an Indigenous Tikuna community nestled along Colombia’s Amacayacu River in the heart of the Amazon basin. Armed with only his traditional walking stick, the 74-year-old Indigenous guardian embarks on a routine that has remained unchanged for decades: checking the riverside port for arrivals, visiting homes to assess community health, and most critically, monitoring the surrounding forest for illegal logging and fishing activities.

Sánchez’s vigilance intensifies during late March, the breeding season when hunting is strictly prohibited by traditional law. “That’s when tapirs are pregnant,” he explains. “If you kill an animal with a large belly, that to us is a crime.” This seasonal protection reflects the sophisticated ecological knowledge that Indigenous communities like the Tikuna have developed over centuries, serving as crucial guardians of one of the world’s most biodiverse regions.

However, Sánchez represents a vanishing breed. Despite his extensive experience, he has witnessed dozens of fellow guardians abandon their posts due to lack of compensation. The economic reality facing Indigenous environmental protectors highlights a broader challenge: those most qualified to safeguard critical ecosystems often cannot afford to continue their vital work. Located two hours by boat from Leticia, San Martín de Amacayacu exemplifies the remote Amazon communities where dedicated individuals like Sánchez continue their essential conservation efforts, even as younger generations seek income elsewhere, leaving the forest’s future uncertain.