Who we are
The Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) is a non-profit organization founded in 1996 to protect the Amazon rainforest and the local communities that live there. ACT believes that the viability of ecosystems in the Amazon forest and the integrity of traditional cultures are interdependent. From the beginning, ACT has worked closely with prominent indigenous healers. In addition to the “Shamans and Apprentices” program, ACT works on the sustainable use of natural resources, developing sustainable livelihoods for local communities, and supporting local governance while preserving traditions. On September 2, 2002, ACT Suriname was established as a non-governmental organization (NGO) under Surinamese law, but we have since changed our name to better reflect the environment we operate in; from now on, we are called ACT-Guianas.

Mission
Together with the indigenous and tribal communities in central and southern Suriname, southern Guyana, northern Brazil, and French Guiana, ACT Guianas works on the protection and conservation of biodiversity, culture, and traditional healthcare. As traditional residents and users of the forest, indigenous and tribal communities are at the heart of our programs for the protection of the tropical rainforest.

Vision
The traditional knowledge of local communities is essential for the conservation of the Amazon rainforest. Therefore, it is important to value and integrate this knowledge into all activities. It is crucial to empower the indigenous peoples and Maroons in the area so that they can continue to protect the ecosystems, with the fauna and flora that exist within, as they have done for centuries. Within this, ACT Guianas consistently focuses on the protection of the natural ecosystem, its biodiversity, and the improvement of livelihood security and support for traditional cultures.

Strategy
ACT Guianas aims to achieve its goals in an effective manner and along three strategic pillars. These pillars are sustainable forest management, strengthening of local governance, and promotion of self-sufficiency. We do this through fieldwork in the rainforest and together with the Indigenous and Tribal communities in the rainforest. Entering into sustainable partnerships with these communities is seen as the basis for successful conservation.