Rio Sagrado AI Avatar

The Rio Sagrado Avatar is a digital-physical embodiment of the Rio Sagrado in Morretes, Paraná (Brazil). It serves both educational and political purposes by giving voice to a threatened river within one of the world’s most biodiverse biomes—the Atlantic RainForest. The 21km river carries cultural and historical importance, having once provided refuge for fleeing slaves and lending its name to a major neighborhood. Today, it faces grave risks from an international railroad project that threatens to destroy over 100 water springs in the region. In response, the local community is mobilizing to defend the river, advocating for its recognition as a legal entity with rights. To amplify this movement, the AI Avatar was co-created as a symbolic and functional spokesperson for the river. It includes a handcrafted sculpture by a local artisan, an AI interface trained on scientific and cultural knowledge about the watershed, and a system of environmental sensors for real-time monitoring of water quality. Accessible via web and WhatsApp, the AI Avatar allows the river to “speak” and share its story. It not only engages the public but also supports legal and policy advocacy efforts. As such, it has sparked broader initiatives aimed at fostering an understanding of the Rio Sagrado as a living entity with legal rights, including a community-led short film and original song and the draft of a Rights of Nature bill to be presented to the municipality's government. Furthermore, the project sparked a partnership with the MAPAS ONG towards a campaign to fund new AI Avatars for legally recognized ecosystems across Brazil.