About Adam Gebb
Adam Gebb is a seasoned conservation strategist and environmental advocate focused on addressing landscape connectivity challenges alongside Indigenous and rural communities. As the Executive Director of the Andes Amazon Conservancy, he partners closely with Indigenous nations in Ecuador to safeguard vital wildlife migration corridors linking the Andes and the Amazon. With over three decades of experience in wildlands conservation, Adam has led comprehensive wildlife migration and corridor studies and crafted innovative approaches to preserving ecological integrity while supporting local communities.
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Early Life and Education
Born and raised in New York City, Adam Gebb earned his Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration with a concentration in International Marketing from Northeastern University in Boston. Despite his business studies, his true passion lay in environmental conservation. In 1989, he pursued additional coursework in ethno-ecology and tropical ecology at San Francisco State University, leading him to Northern Thailand. There, he gained direct exposure to tropical ecosystems and the deep ties between Indigenous peoples and their lands.
While in Thailand, Adam observed a significant disconnect between government-driven conservation efforts and the actual needs of local communities. This pivotal moment reshaped his conservation philosophy, cementing his conviction that enduring environmental solutions must be developed in collaboration with the Indigenous populations who have long been stewards of these landscapes. This realization has driven his work ever since, prioritizing conservation strategies that empower local communities and uphold the evolutionary processes that sustain future biodiversity.
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Moving to the Andes and Amazon
In 2018, Adam took decisive action toward his conservation goals by relocating to Ecuador and establishing the Andes Amazon Conservancy. The organization collaborates with Indigenous nations such as the Shuar, Kichwa, Shiwiar, and Sapara to protect some of Earth’s most biodiverse rainforests while promoting sustainable livelihoods. As Executive Director, Adam spearheads efforts to create a 300-kilometer wildlife migration corridor reconnecting the Amazon rainforest with the Andes Mountains.
His conservation model revolves around landscape connectivity—the principle that wildlife requires uninterrupted pathways to migrate between habitats, ensuring access to the resources essential for survival. This approach is especially crucial in the Amazon, where deforestation and road construction are fragmenting habitats and threatening ecosystems. By facilitating Indigenous-led conservation and land-use planning, Adam helps translate generations of local ecological knowledge into innovative strategies that go beyond conventional scientific approaches.
A Focus on Food Sovereignty and Sustainable Land Use
Food sovereignty plays a pivotal role in Adam’s conservation initiatives in Ecuador. Indigenous territories impacted by new roads and deforestation have suffered ecological damage and a decline in traditional food resources. To counter this, Adam partners with local leaders to create conservation land-use plans that integrate sustainable agriculture and edible forest systems into broader ecological protection efforts. His vision aims to establish a network of wildlife migration corridors intertwined with human food sovereignty systems, enabling both communities and ecosystems to flourish.
Among his notable accomplishments is leading the Edible Forest Program, which restores fragmented rainforest areas by planting diverse corridors of native fruit, nut, and edible palm species. This program addresses two intertwined challenges: conserving biodiversity and enhancing food security. By revitalizing ecological connections and expanding access to nutritious, locally grown foods, the initiative strengthens Indigenous communities and protects fragile Amazonian ecosystems.
Research and Advocacy
Throughout the past 30 years, Adam Gebb has guided environmental research and advocacy initiatives. His studies in Ecuador’s Amazon region have uncovered insights into the movements of entire forest communities and how to lessen the ecological impacts of deforestation and development. Through his work, he has highlighted the critical role of wildlife migration networks in preserving biodiversity. His research has informed both local and international conservation organizations, influencing conservation strategies in the Andes Amazon region.
The Earthshot Prize Nomination
In 2024, Adam’s conservation work received recognition with a nomination for the Earthshot Prize, honoring innovative solutions to pressing environmental issues. This nomination underscored the successes of the Andes Amazon Conservancy’s Indigenous-led initiatives and the organization’s work in sustainable land-use planning, balancing the needs of growing human populations with biodiversity protection.
The Earthshot nomination also spotlighted the Conservancy’s efforts to integrate wildlife migration pathways with strategies for human food sovereignty, presenting a model with global potential.
Personal Interests and Outdoor Adventures
Beyond his professional pursuits, Adam is passionate about the outdoors. For over 40 years, he has ventured into wilderness areas across the globe, guiding expeditions in backpacking, kayaking, and backcountry skiing. His expertise in wildlife tracking, sustainable forestry, and cartography has been invaluable in his conservation endeavors. His understanding of temperate and subtropical ecosystems, along with his backcountry navigation skills, has enabled him to identify ecologically significant areas across large landscapes. Adam also enjoys sailing and practicing organic gardening.