{{Short description|Colombian environmentalist (born 1982)}} {{Family name hatnote|Estrada|Añokazi|lang=Spanish}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Lena Estrada | image = Ministra_de_Ambiente.jpg | caption = Official portrait, 2025 | office = Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development | president = Gustavo Petro | term_start = March 3, 2025 | term_end = August 5, 2025 | predecessor = Susana Muhamad | successor = ''Vacant''{{Efn|Irene Vélez Torres served as Acting Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development}} | office2 = Director of Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs | president2 = Gustavo Petro | term_start2 = May 17, 2024 | term_end2 = March 3, 2025 | predecessor2 = Bertha Patricia Alemán | successor2 = Ana María Moreno | birth_name = Lena Yanina Estrada Añozaki | birth_date = {{Birth year and age|1982}} | birth_place = La Chorrera, Amazonas, Colombia | death_date = | death_place = | alma_mater ={{Unbulleted list | National University of Colombia<br>(PS) | Polytechnic University of Catalonia<br>(ES) }} | party = Alternative Indigenous and Social Movement (2015-present) | other_party = Historic Pact for Colombia (2021-2025) | spouse = | children = | website = }} '''Lena Yanina Estrada Añokazi''' (born {{Circa}} 1982) is a Colombian political scientist, environmentalist, and Indigenous leader who served as Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development from March to August 2025 under President Gustavo Petro.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.minambiente.gov.co/funcionario/lena-yanina-estrada/|title=Lena Yanina Estrada|access-date=March 8, 2025|date=March 7, 2025|website=Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.minambiente.gov.co/funcionario/lena-yanina-estrada/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lasillavacia.com/quien-es-quien/lena-yanina-estrada-primera-ministra-de-ambiente-indigena/|title=Lena Yanina Estrada|access-date=March 22, 2025|date=March 20, 2025|website=La Silla Vacía|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.lasillavacia.com/quien-es-quien/lena-yanina-estrada-primera-ministra-de-ambiente-indigena/|url-status=live}}</ref> She also served as director of the Diplomatic Academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.pares.com.co/post/lena-estrada-primera-ministra-ind%C3%ADgena-de-ambiente-en-colombia|title=Lena Estrada, primera ministra indígena de Ambiente en Colombia|trans-title=Lena Estrada, first indigenous Minister of Environment in Colombia|access-date=March 9, 2025|date=March 7, 2025|last=Erazo|first=Katerin|newspaper=Pares|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.pares.com.co/post/lena-estrada-primera-ministra-ind%C3%ADgena-de-ambiente-en-colombia|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.portafolio.co/economia/gobierno/lena-estrada-es-designada-como-nueva-ministra-de-ambiente-624676|title=Quién es Lena Estrada, la nueva ministra de Ambiente del gobierno Petro|trans-title=Who is Lena Estrada, the new Minister of the Environment in the Petro government?|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=February 26, 2025|website=Portafolio|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.portafolio.co/economia/gobierno/lena-estrada-es-designada-como-nueva-ministra-de-ambiente-624676|url-status=live}}</ref>
Born in La Chorrera, Amazonas, Estrada is the first woman of Indigenous descent to serve as Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2025-02-27/petro-nombra-en-ambiente-su-cartera-predilecta-a-la-primera-ministra-indigena-de-colombia.html|title=Petro nombra en Ambiente, su cartera predilecta, a la primera ministra indígena de Colombia|trans-title=Petro appoints Colombia's first indigenous minister to his favorite portfolio, the Environment Ministry|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=February 26, 2025|last=Torrado|first=Santiago|newspaper=El País|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://elpais.com/america-colombia/2025-02-27/petro-nombra-en-ambiente-su-cartera-predilecta-a-la-primera-ministra-indigena-de-colombia.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2025/02/26/lena-yanina-estrada-la-lider-indigena-que-asume-el-ministerio-de-ambiente-tras-la-salida-de-susana-muhamad/|title=Lena Yanina Estrada: ella es la líder indígena del Amazonas que asume el Ministerio de Ambiente tras la salida de Susana Muhamad|trans-title=Lena Yanina Estrada: she is the indigenous leader from the Amazon who takes over the Ministry of Environment after the departure of Susana Muhamad|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=February 26, 2025|last=Cifuentes Quintero|first=Santiago|newspaper=Infobae|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.infobae.com/colombia/2025/02/26/lena-yanina-estrada-la-lider-indigena-que-asume-el-ministerio-de-ambiente-tras-la-salida-de-susana-muhamad/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/lena-yanina-estrada-sera-la-nueva-ministra-de-ambiente-publican-su-hoja-de-vida-3430424|title=Lena Yanina Estrada será la nueva ministra de Ambiente; publican su hoja de vida|trans-title=Lena Yanina Estrada will be the new Minister of the Environment; her resume has been published|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=February 26, 2025|last=Quintero|first=Laura Nathalia|newspaper=El Tiempo|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/lena-yanina-estrada-sera-la-nueva-ministra-de-ambiente-publican-su-hoja-de-vida-3430424|url-status=live}}</ref> She studied political science at the National University of Colombia and later environmental sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.rtvcnoticias.com/lena-estrada-nueva-ministra-ambiente|title=Dra. Lena Yanina Estrada Añokazi, primera mujer indígena nombrada como ministra de Ambiente|trans-title=Dr. Lena Yanina Estrada Añokazi, the first indigenous woman appointed as Minister of the Environment|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=February 26, 2025|website=RTVC Noticias|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.rtvcnoticias.com/lena-estrada-nueva-ministra-ambiente|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.larepublica.co/economia/lena-estrada-es-designada-como-la-nueva-ministra-de-ambiente-asume-el-3-de-marzo-4072432|title=Lena Estrada es designada como nueva ministra de Ambiente y reemplaza a Muhamad|trans-title=Lena Estrada is appointed as the new Minister of the Environment, replacing Muhamad|access-date=February 27, 2025|date=February 26, 2025|last1=Martínez|first1=Lucas|last2=Medina Ariza|first2=Mateo|newspaper=La República|language=Spanish|archive-date=May 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250506220645/https://www.larepublica.co/economia/lena-estrada-es-designada-como-la-nueva-ministra-de-ambiente-asume-el-3-de-marzo-4072432|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Early life, education and family== Lena Yanina Estrada Añokazi was born in La Chorrera, Amazonas. She grew up in the Uitoto Minɨka Indigenous Community. Her mother, Felisa Añokazi, is an Indigenous educator and leader. After graduating from high school, she moved to Bogotá, D.C., where she studied Political Science at the National University of Colombia and later pursued a postgraduate degree in Environmental Sustainability at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia. Estrada also served as a professor at the National University of Colombia and as a research professor for UNESCO. Since 2010, she has led environmental and biodiversity issues, serving as an advisor during Olbar Andrade's term as Governor of Amazonas. Since 2022, she has represented Indigenous peoples at the United Nations Environment Programme.
Estrada ran for the Chamber of Representatives for the Amazonas region in the 2018 parliamentary election, receiving support from the Alternative Indigenous and Social Movement Party, a member of the Desency List, but was unsuccessful.
===Career=== In 2024, she was appointed general director of the diplomatic academy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, one of her main priorities being to open the diplomatic service to Indigenous and Afro-descendant peoples, historically excluded from diplomatic training in Colombia. She achieved this for the first time.
Her arrival at the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development would take place on March 3, 2025, when, after the resignation of Susana Muhamad, President Gustavo Petro would designate her as Muhamad's replacement, with one of her main priorities being the fight against hunting and the responsible management of clean energy and the restoration of ecological areas.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.minambiente.gov.co/ministra-lena-estrada-anuncia-17-mil-millones-para-restauracion-ecologica-en-territorio-arahuaco/|title=Ministra Lena Estrada anuncia $17 mil millones para restauración ecológica en territorio Arahuaco|trans-title=Minister Lena Estrada announces $17 billion for ecological restoration in Arahuaco territory|access-date=July 29, 2025|date=July 20, 2025|work=Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development|language=Spanish|archive-date=March 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306220645/https://www.minambiente.gov.co/ministra-lena-estrada-anuncia-17-mil-millones-para-restauracion-ecologica-en-territorio-arahuaco/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.minambiente.gov.co/ministra-lena-estrada-junto-al-sina-avanzan-con-prioridades-ambientales-del-caribe/|title=Ministra Lena Estrada junto al SINA avanzan con prioridades ambientales del Caribe|trans-title=Minister Lena Estrada and SINA advance environmental priorities in the Caribbean|access-date=July 29, 2025|date=July 24, 2025|work=Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development|language=Spanish|archive-date=March 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306220645/|url-status=live}}</ref>
On August 5, after two months in office, Estrada resigned from her position and was replaced as acting head by Irene Vélez Torres.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.elespectador.com/ambiente/lena-estrada-abandona-el-ministerio-de-ambiente/|title=Lena Estrada abandona el Ministerio de Ambiente|trans-title=Lena Estrada leaves the Ministry of Environment|access-date=August 6, 2025|date=August 5, 2025|work=El Espectador|language=Spanish|archive-date=March 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306220645/https://www.elespectador.com/ambiente/lena-estrada-abandona-el-ministerio-de-ambiente/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/renuncio-la-ministra-de-ambiente-lena-yanina-estrada-habia-pasado-su-carta-el-primero-de-agosto-3478715|title=Presidente Gustavo Petro aceptó renuncia de la ministra de Ambiente, Lena Yanina Estrada: había pasado su carta el primero de agosto|trans-title=President Gustavo Petro accepted the resignation of the Minister of the Environment, Lena Yanina Estrada: she had submitted her letter on August 1st|access-date=August 8, 2025|date=August 5, 2025|last=Santillana Ayala|first=Felipe|work=El Tiempo|language=Spanish|archive-date=March 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306220645/https://www.eltiempo.com/politica/gobierno/renuncio-la-ministra-de-ambiente-lena-yanina-estrada-habia-pasado-su-carta-el-primero-de-agosto-3478715|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lasillavacia.com/silla-amazonia/el-detras-de-camaras-de-la-salida-de-la-ministra-lena-estrada/|title=El detrás de cámaras de la salida de la ministra Lena Estrada|trans-title=Behind the scenes of Minister Lena Estrada's departure|access-date=August 7, 2025|date=August 5, 2025|last=Arbelaez Jaramillo|first=Natalia|work=La Silla Vacía|language=Spanish|archive-date=March 6, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250306220645/https://www.lasillavacia.com/silla-amazonia/el-detras-de-camaras-de-la-salida-de-la-ministra-lena-estrada/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==External links== {{Wikiquote}}
* {{Commons category-inline}}
{{s-start}} {{s-off}} {{s-bef|before=Susana Muhamad}} {{s-ttl|title=Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development|years=2025–2025}} {{s-aft|after=''Irene Vélez Torres''}} {{s-end}}
{{Ministers of Environment of Colombia}} {{Petro cabinet}}
{{Authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Estrada, Lena}}
Category:Living people Category:1982 births Category:Colombian political scientists Category:Colombian environmentalists Category:Colombian women environmentalists Category:Women political scientists Category:Colombian women political scientists Category:21st-century Colombian politicians Category:21st-century Colombian women politicians Category:21st-century Colombian women civil servants Category:21st-century Colombian civil servants Category:National University of Colombia alumni Category:Polytechnic University of Catalonia alumni Category:Government ministers of Colombia Category:Women government ministers of Colombia Category:Petro administration personnel Category:Petro administration cabinet members Category:Ministers of environment and sustainable development of Colombia Category:People associated with the 2022 Colombian presidential election Category:Colombian people of Witoto descent Category:Colombian people of Spanish descent