Rafael joined LLF as Program Coordinator in May 2026.

Over the past ten years, Rafael has developed his professional career in the Brazilian Amazon, working on biodiversity conservation, environmental governance, and the empowerment of local communities and Indigenous Peoples. During this time, he collaborated with institutions such as the National Research Institute of the Amazon (INPA), the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), and the Amazonas Environmental Secretariat (SEMA). In these roles, Rafael designed and coordinated research projects focused on socio-environmental conflicts in protected areas and implemented public policies aimed at climate change mitigation through REDD+ and Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanisms. To strengthen these conservation initiatives, he actively fostered dialogue among diverse stakeholder groups and promoted collaboration among civil society, businesses, governments, and NGOs to advance long-term solutions.