Wills gets down to business in Brazil: Prince warns of ‘nature crisis’ facing the world at anti-wildlife trade summit – after being gifted elegant scarf by Amazon tribe and touring Rio

Prince William has warned of a ‘nature crisis’ facing the world as he delivered a speech at an anti-wildlife trade summit in Brazil. 

The landmark talk was given at the United for Wildlife Summit – thrown by the Prince and Princess of Wales’s Royal Foundation – in Rio on Tuesday night.  

William told the conference that Latin America ‘stands as a global leader in biodiversity and environmental conservation’ and will play a ‘crucial role in shaping the world’s response to nature loss at this decisive moment’.

It came hours after he was gifted an eye-catching scarf, made for him by an indigenous leader, as he met stars from his BBC Earth ‘Guardians’ programme, which aired earlier this year. 

During his speech, William said: ‘We all know that we face a nature crisis… with global biodiversity decreasing, climate change accelerating, and environmental crime fuelling ecological decline.

‘As we’ve heard this evening, environmental crime is now one of the most profitable and damaging forms of transnational crime.

‘In the past year alone, over 1.7 million hectares of the Amazon were cleared across this region… much of which is driven by illicit activity.

‘This crime fuels violence and corruption, distorts legitimate economies, and negatively impacts the livelihoods of millions.’ 

During his speech, Prince William says: ‘We all know that we face a nature crisis’ 

The Prince of Wales during the United for Wildlife Summit at Pier Maua, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on Tuesday 

Vanda Witoto (left) Climate Activist, Indigenous Leader and Executive Director of Witoto Institute, drapes a garment on William during the summit

She places the black and cream scarf over his head and tells William it took three hours to make

He added: ‘For Indigenous communities, these losses are not just environmental but existential. As forests are destroyed, so are their ancestral lands, sacred sites and even lives.’ 

William also announced a new partnership between his Royal Foundation and indigenous community leaders who, he said, ‘face deadly consequences’ for standing in the way of illicit activity providing an emergency support fund to help those in immediate danger find safety.

Latin America, he added, recorded 120 environmental protectors killed or who disappeared in 2024 – accounting for more than 80 per cent of all such cases worldwide.

‘These are people taking enormous risks to protect the land and the future we all depend on,’ he said.

‘We cannot manage our forests while their protectors live in fear. 

‘Because only by working together can we protect those protecting the future of our planet’s critical ecosystems.’ 

William also revealed that a similar previous partnership, in which we vowed to insure rangers in Africa facing similar challenges, had already exceeded targets to insure ten thousand rangers within five years.

He added: ‘Tomorrow night, here in Rio, the Earthshot Prize will honour some of the most inspiring people and solutions to our planet’s greatest challenges.

‘Taken together, all these efforts show us what is possible when courage, creativity, and commitment come together.

‘And our task here today is clear… We must put a stop to the criminal networks driving environmental crime and destruction.

‘We must stand alongside those who everyday are standing up and defending nature. We must recognise and celebrate these protectors, not just in words but through our actions.

The event on Tuesday is in partnership with Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Prince William listens during the United for Wildlife Summit at Pier Maua, Rio de Janeiro 

Kleber Karipuna (right), Executive Coordinator of Articulation of Indigenous Peoples of Brazil (APIB), speaks with Prince William during the United for Wildlife Summit

‘And we must act together.

‘Governments, businesses and civil society – each must now step up and play their role in developing solutions, scaling support, and shifting resources to where they are needed most.’

United for Wildlife was founded by William in 2013. 

Earlier, the royal was handed a scarf given to him by an indigenous leader as he met stars from a docuseries he made.

The women from the Amazon Rainforest feature in the sixth episode of BBC Earth ‘Guardians’ programme. 

The series highlighted the crucial and often deadly work of rangers around the world in protecting their environment.

The prince met Maisa Guajajara, Poliana Moreira Guajajara and Claudia Maria Guajajara Da Silva at a United for Wildlife Summit in Rio on Tuesday. 

It comes after the royal participated in a game of beach volleyball alongside Olympic star Carolina Solberg on Monday, as he soaked in the sun ahead of his Wednesday presentation of the Earthshot Prize – the world’s most prestigious environmental awards.

The women from the Guerreiras da Floresta – a collective of Indigenous women from the Guajajara people in Brazil – combine ancestral knowledge with modern technology such as drones and GPS-enabled cameras to combat illegal logging, poaching, and land invasions.

Prince William said: ‘I recognise you! You guys were brilliant in the film.’ 

Prince William also greeted Brazilian TV presenter Maria Julia ‘Maju’ Coutinho – the first Black woman to anchor a primetime national newscast in Brazil

Speaking through a translator, the Prince of Wales asked them about feeling protected and isolated and whether they had good support.

He said: ‘Thank you so much – lots of people have seen your video.’

William was wearing round his neck a scarf given to him by Vanda Witoto, Climate Activist and Indigenous Leader from the Witoto people in the Brazilian Amazon.

She placed the black and cream scarf over his head and said to William it took three hours to make.

It symbolised food and health, she told him through a translator.

Prince William also greeted Brazilian TV presenter Maria Julia ‘Maju’ Coutinho – the first Black woman to anchor a primetime national newscast in Brazil.

Yesterday the Prince and former Brazil defender Cafu played against each other in a three-a-side match testing the skills of schoolboys from across Rio. 

Cafu led his side to a 3-2 victory over William and his teammates but the Prince quickly moved on to join a training session with a group of young girls holding cups of water as they dribbled, in a bid to improve their balance by not spilling the liquid.

William ended his football drills by taking a penalty against goalie Pedro Enrique, 14, as his teammates chanted his name.

When he scored he was mobbed by youngsters wanting a high-five.