The Kayapo territory on the Xingu River is an area of unmarred rainforest as large as the state of Virginia, and it’s threatened by illegal timber extraction, gold mining, and land grabs for cattle ranching. Despite these threats, the Indigenous Kayapo – known as the defenders of the Amazon – have successfully protected their territorial borders for more than 30 years. Join Scott Hecker, Director of Bird Conservation at the International Conservation Fund of Canada, for a glimpse into the natural history of this special place, and to learn about Kayapo culture and their ongoing efforts to protect the rainforest.

Noon to 1 p.m. via Zoom. To get the login details, register here. For more information, contact Susie Spikol.

This event will be recorded. To ensure access to the recording, please register for this event, even if you cannot attend live.

Scott Hecker has directed bird conservation efforts for the Massachusetts Audubon Society, the National Audubon Society, and the International Conservation Fund. His leadership played a key role in the recovery of the Piping Plover in Massachusetts, where plover populations have increased tenfold since he established Mass Audubon’s Coastal Waterbird Program in 1987. Since 2016, Scott has worked for the International Conservation Fund of Canada, which protects more than 40 million acres in nearly 40 countries. Scott first became interested in tropical conservation during his graduate work at Antioch University, where his master’s thesis focused on the first privately protected area in Belize, which is today the largest private reserve in Central America. Scott also leads nature tours and works as a wildlife artist and photographer. He is based in Temple, New Hampshire.