YURIMAGUAS, Peru – The Sacred Headwaters Alliance brings together thirty Indigenous nations of the upper Amazon in Ecuador and Peru, who are self-organizing to defend a forest devastated by unchecked extraction that is rapidly consuming their territory. Their leaders are on high alert due to the devastating effects of climate change on nature, which they perceive as a living being with a spiritual entity. The Sacred Headwaters Alliance is focusing on climate mitigation and adaptation, as well as on teaching younger generations to resist the ongoing destruction of the Amazon. This initiative is crucial as the Amazon Basin has been severely impacted by record wildfires, with more than 22.4 million hectares (55.3 million acres) scorched between January and September 2024 in Brazil alone. Extreme heat and drought conditions have also exacerbated the crisis, affecting evaporation processes and pushing almost all major rivers in the Amazon — vital for Indigenous communities’ livelihoods — to their lowest-ever levels. How do they face this existential crisis? What worldview do they propose to save the forest and the planet? Are we still in time to avoid a point of no return? These are the critical questions the Sacred Headwaters Alliance is grappling with as they work to protect both their cultural heritage and the environment. This documentary was produced thanks to the support of the Pulitzer Center and OpenDemocracy. Mongabay’s Video Team wants to cover questions and topics that matter to you. Are there any inspiring people, urgent issues, or local stories that you’d like…This article was originally published on Mongabay
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