Episode Information

In the heart of the Brazilian Amazon, thousands of people invade protected lands, devastating centuries-old forests for resources and fast profits. Now as the health of the entire Amazon teeters at the edge, will Brazil and the world take notice?

Indigenous forest guardian Marçal Guajajara and Indigenous leader Puyr Tembé stand at the frontlines of this fight, risking everything to protect their ancestral lands and way of life from relentless invasions and deforestation. On the other side–Valdir, an illegal logger who’s trapped in a desperate struggle to make ends meet, enters indigenous territories to remove the highest value trees he can find. These rare and vanishing species, which fetch huge prices at market, are destined for lands far beyond Brazil. Valdir, with no other means to support his family, won’t stop unless he’s caught.

These are just a few of the powerful narratives at the center of We Are Guardians — a story of humanity amidst one of the most urgent crises on the planet: the destruction of the Amazon rainforest. Through a tapestry of voices, the film provides a raw and intimate look at the lives of those closest to the forest and weaves together politics, history, economics, science, and consciousness, providing an in-depth exploration of this incredibly complex situation — the origins and the impact of which ripple out far beyond the boundaries of the Amazon itself. Directed by Edivan Guajajara, Chelsea Greene, and Rob Grobman, and produced by Academy Award winner Fisher Stevens with Leonardo DiCaprio serving as Executive Producer, the film ultimately illuminates a path forward, where hope and unity can guide us toward a brighter future for the Amazon and our planet.