TED Business The world's first "nature superpower" | Ilona Szabó de Carvalho
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Oct 27, 2025 
Ilona Szabó de Carvalho, a civic entrepreneur dedicated to combating deforestation, shares her vision of Brazil as a 'nature superpower.' She reveals how Brazil seeks to profit from protecting its environment, addressing the massive illegal deforestation crisis and its connections to global crime. Ilona discusses innovative solutions like satellite forest mappings and community-driven bioeconomies. Her initiative, Greenbridge, inspires a future where nature is central to national identity, aiming to turn environmental challenges into economic opportunities.
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Nature As A National Strategy
- Brazil can become a "nature superpower" by redesigning its economy around natural capital.
- Valuing forests, water, soil and biodiversity alive creates systemic climate, food and water security benefits.
Illegal Deforestation Is Central
- Over 90% of Brazilian deforestation is illegal and tied to illicit markets like land grabbing and illegal mining.
- Those crimes generate huge illicit profits and push the carbon sink toward dangerous tipping points.
Following The Money In The Amazon
- Ilona describes tracking illegal products and following the money across the Amazon basin.
- Her team's work shows policing alone cannot stop large-scale illegal deforestation.