The Lungs of the Earth | Ep. 69

Overview:

In this eye-opening episode of The Sustainable Voice®, host Ashish Sanghrajka welcomes sisters Inés and Gaby Orihuela to separate fact from fiction about the Amazon rainforest. Gaby, a field biologist and tropical conservation expert, teams up with Inés, who has dedicated 15 years to sustainable luxury tourism with Delfin Amazon Cruises, to reveal what the Amazon truly means for our planet and why protecting it matters now more than ever.

Topics:

• The Amazon oxygen myth explained: While the rainforest produces oxygen, it also consumes it—creating a self-sustaining ecosystem rather than being Earth's primary oxygen source.
• The Amazon's real superpower: Unparalleled biodiversity with over 10,000 plant species in Peru alone, many still unknown to science, holding potential for medicine, food, and cultural preservation.
• Major threats facing the region: Deforestation driven by cattle ranching, unsustainable agriculture, and lack of political will continue to threaten this irreplaceable ecosystem.
• BioRES program brings hope: This biocultural restoration initiative combines traditional ecological knowledge with modern conservation techniques to restore abandoned lands and reconnect communities.
• Tourism as a force for good: The zero-repeat-rate nature of Amazon tourism means each visit must create lasting impact—turning travelers into advocates for conservation.