Creative economy and regeneration
from the heart of the rainforest.

Our Purpose

To support the development of extractivist and Indigenous communities, artists whose economic activities integrate the sustainable use of Amazonian natural resources, contributing to forest conservation through the bioeconomy.

Learn More

About Us

WAMA is a non-profit organization that supports sustainable livelihoods in the Amazon through creativity, ancestral knowledge, design, and biodiversity-based innovation. We work with Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, and young creatives to build a regenerative future for the forest and its people.

Based in Manaus, Brazil — acting across the Amazon biome.

See more!

Initiatives

WAMA's initiatives seek to bring the discussion of sociobiodiversity into the creative market of arts, fashion & design, fostering a meaningful connection between local knowledge, traditional practices, and contemporariness. By integrating the wisdom of Amazonian communities with the innovation of creative professionals, we aim to create a sustainable and inclusive model that values both cultural heritage and environmental preservation. At its core, this initiative is about building bridges—between people, territories, and economies—while empowering women entrepreneurs and promoting the sustainable use of forest resources.

Impact Goals
By 2030

- 500+ families positively impacted

- 85% of participants are women

- 90% of youth involved are under 30

- 15 million digital reach

WHAT WE DO

Capacity building in the field of materials, design & handicrafts, value chains, production management, community entrepreneurship
Artistic collaborations with communities
Creative education and training for women and youth across communities (e.g.: crafts & design; jewellery and textile art)
Support local production value chains and entrepreneurship
Artistic residencies and cultural exchanges
Exhibitions and cultural events linked to indigenous cultures, fashion, arts and design rubber, fibers, seeds, clay, natural dyes
Storytelling and impact publications
Certifications and traceability
Local entrepreneurship programmes
Research and development for innovation in Amazonian biomaterials .

Learn More

Projects

Circularity Yawanawá: Life Without Waste in the Forest

Rethinking the forest people relationship with waste. In the Yawanawá villages, the initiative brings together tradition and innovation to transform residues into life, protect the forest, and inspire solutions in the face of the climate challenges confronting our planet.

Team & Network

WAMA is led by a multidisciplinary team of professionals, such as researchers, artists, social entrepreneurs, and community leaders who came together to unite their experience, expertise, and passion for the Amazon, its biodiversity and its populations.

Meet Us