It is with immense sadness that AMAZ announces the passing of Mariano Colini Cenamo, CEO of AMAZ and founder of Idesam, which occurred on the night of July 10, 2026.
Mariano dedicated his life to the Amazon. More than just creating an organization, he built a movement of people committed to demonstrating that conserving the forest necessarily involves valuing those who live in it. His transformative vision helped consolidate a new way of thinking about sustainable development, connecting science, entrepreneurship, innovation, bioeconomy, and social impact long before these themes occupied a central place in global discussions.
When he founded IDESAM more than two decades ago, Mariano laid the foundations for an institution that today works on different fronts to promote concrete solutions for the Amazon. His ability to bring people together, develop leaders, build bridges between different sectors, and transform challenges into opportunities has profoundly marked the institution's trajectory and influenced countless initiatives that continue to generate a positive impact in the region.
But perhaps his greatest legacy was his humanity. Mariano deeply believed in people. He encouraged talent, challenged teams to go further, celebrated collective achievements, and made trust a principle of leadership. He inspired colleagues, partners, communities, entrepreneurs, researchers, and friends to see that great transformations begin when someone decides to believe they are possible.
His departure leaves an immense void. At the same time, it leaves an equally great responsibility: to continue caring for the legacy he helped build. Each project, each partnership, each strengthened community, and each opportunity created to keep the forest standing carries a piece of his vision and his commitment to the Amazon.
In this moment of profound sorrow, IDESAM expresses its solidarity with the family, friends, colleagues, and all who had the privilege of sharing part of this journey with Mariano. Our gratitude for his life, his generosity, and his ability to inspire people will forever remain in the institution's history.
Honoring his memory will mean continuing to work with the same purpose that always guided his career: building solutions capable of reconciling forest conservation, sustainable development, and quality of life for the Amazonian populations.
Mariano leaves behind a legacy that transcends time. He will remain present in IDESAM's mission, in the people he trained, in the institutions he helped strengthen, and in every transformation built for the benefit of the Amazon.
Information about the farewell
The farewell ceremony will be held on July 11th at the Ivory Chapel, at the Jardim da Paz Cemetery and Crematorium, in Florianópolis (SC).
Funeral: From 10 AM to 1 PM.
Address: SC-401 Highway, km 17, No. 2647, João Paulo neighborhood, Florianópolis (SC), Postal Code 88030-000.
Mariano, IDESAM pays you its most sincere tribute. Your legacy will live on in the forest you so fiercely defended, in the people you inspired, and in all of us who will continue to believe—as you always believed—that it is possible to build a more just, prosperous, and sustainable Amazon.
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