Adam Gebb

Adam Gebb is a conservation strategist and environmental leader who has dedicated his career to solving landscape connectivity challenges in collaboration with Indigenous and rural communities. As the Executive Director of Andes Amazon Conservancy, he works closely with Indigenous nations in Ecuador to protect critical wildlife migration corridors between the Andes and the Amazon. With more than 30 years of experience in wildlands conservation, he has led extensive studies on wildlife migration and corridors, developing innovative strategies to maintain ecological integrity while supporting local communities.

Born and raised in New York City, Adam initially pursued a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on International Marketing from Northeastern University in Boston. However, his growing passion for environmental conservation led him to a different path. In 1989, he furthered his ethno-ecology and tropical ecology studies at San Francisco State University, bringing him to Northern Thailand. He gained firsthand experience in tropical ecosystems and observed the deep connections between Indigenous communities and their environments. This exposure profoundly impacted his conservation approach, particularly the realization that lasting environmental solutions must be developed in partnership with the Indigenous people who have long stewarded these landscapes.

In 2018, Gebb took a decisive step toward his conservation vision by moving to Ecuador, where he founded Andes Amazon Conservancy. The organization works with Indigenous nations, such as the Shuar, Kichwa, Shiwiar, and Sapara, to protect some of the world's most biodiverse rainforests while promoting sustainable development. As Executive Director, Adam leads efforts to establish a 300-kilometer wildlife migration corridor that reconnects the Amazon rainforest with the Andes Mountains. His work emphasizes landscape connectivity, advocating for creating conservation networks that allow wildlife to migrate freely between resource areas and habitats, a crucial element in the Amazon where deforestation and road construction threaten habitats and ecosystems.

Food sovereignty is a central focus of Adam Gebb's conservation efforts in Ecuador, particularly as newly constructed roads and deforestation have disrupted local ecosystems and food sources. In response, he collaborates with local leaders to develop land use plans that incorporate sustainable agriculture and edible forests into broader conservation strategies. His leadership in the Edible Forest Program is a key achievement, reconnecting fragmented rainforests by planting diverse forest corridors with native fruit, nut, and edible palm trees. This initiative addresses two critical issues: biodiversity conservation and food security for Indigenous communities. The program fosters environmental protection and community empowerment by enhancing ecological connectivity and improving access to nutritious, locally sourced food.

Over the past three decades, Adam has directed research and advocacy efforts, particularly in the Ecuadorian Amazon, to understand the movement of entire forest communities and mitigate the impacts of deforestation. His research has underscored the importance of wildlife migration networks in maintaining biodiversity, with his findings influencing conservation policies in the Andes Amazon region. Adam's work has garnered international attention, leading to his nomination for the Earthshot Prize in 2024, which recognizes innovative environmental solutions. His efforts in integrating wildlife migration networks with human food sovereignty planning have been highlighted as a model for global replication.

Beyond his professional life, Adam Gebb is an outdoor enthusiast with over 40 years of experience exploring wilderness areas worldwide. His expertise in wildlife tracking, sustainable forestry, and map-making has been invaluable in his conservation work. Additionally, his knowledge of temperate and subtropical ecology and his skills in backcountry navigation have enabled him to identify areas of high conservation value in large landscapes. Adam also enjoys sailing and organic gardening, complementing his deep environmental commitment.