Josue Arias Calderon
2025 Eco-Hero
3rd PLACE
Josue Arias Calderon
Age 11
Bogotá, Colombia
High Mountain Ecosystem Conservation through Awareness & Restoration
Josué Arias Calderón is a passionate defender of high-mountain ecosystems. From a very young age, he felt deeply drawn to the mountains of his country. At the age of six, he had the opportunity to visit a páramo for the first time and see his first glacier: Nevado Santa Isabel, one of the most endangered glaciers in Colombia. That moment marked him forever.
Through short and entertaining videos on his social media, Josué seeks to educate, protect, and restore páramo ecosystems, raising awareness about the importance of these ecosystems for life.
Since then, along with his father, he has been part of the Cumbres Blancas team, an interdisciplinary collective that brings together photographers, documentary filmmakers, scientists, and environmental activists committed to protecting páramos and glaciers. These ecosystems are vital, as 85% of Colombians depend on them for their drinking water supply.
His transformation has been inspiring: he went from being a potential "environmental villain" to becoming a true "superhero," using his voice to raise awareness. Thanks to his clear and courageous message, he has established himself as a young environmental speaker, sharing his activism with thousands of people.
He has participated as a speaker at high-impact events, including the Blue Planet Prize, The Biz Fest (in front of 14,000 students), Be Happy Fest, Frailejón Fest, and even at the Casa de Nariño, the Colombian presidential residence.
He has performed in schools, auditoriums, and conferences, making an urgent call: we need a league of justice willing to fight for water and the ecosystems that sustain it.
In 2024, he was nominated for Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards, and his work has been recognized not only in Colombia but also in countries such as Mexico and Ecuador.
Josué leads environmental restoration campaigns by planting frailejones (a type of tree) in high-mountain ecosystems. Through the organization Cumbres Blancas, he promotes education, conservation, and restoration campaigns, motivating children, youth, and adults to become environmental superheroes with their own cause.
His dream is for more children to explore their territories, discover the grandeur of nature, and become the voice of those who cannot speak. He dreams of seeing a generation of restorers, defenders, and protectors of our common home: the Earth rise up.
