Heavy, damp air clung to us as we ventured deep into Floresta Nacional Do Tapajo accompanied by three local guides. Paolo was born in a remote village where he learned about the calls of birds, medicine, and how to find safe things to eat. Smells of oils, latex sap, and moist earth immersed us in the beauty of the Amazon. Although we awoke before sunrise, strong coffee prepared us for the hour journey from Santarém through soy fields to the preserve entrance. The sense of pride Paolo has for ‘his forest’ comes through via the passion with which he speaks.Read more