Visionary entrepreneur and environmental conservationist Dax Dasilva is the driving force behind publicly traded Lightspeed Commerce Inc. and the nonprofit Age of Union Alliance. Since establishing Lightspeed in 2005, Dasilva has transformed the company from a retail POS system into a global payments juggernaut, revolutionizing business operations in over 100 countries. His dedication to environmental preservation inspired him to write Age of Union in 2019, highlighting his commitment to mobilizing global activism. Following his $40 million pledge to support ten imperiled environmental projects worldwide, Dasilva embarked on a journey to the frontlines of conservation, producing several documentaries including The Corridor, CAUGHT, and Wildcat, with the latter winning the 2023 Emmy Award for Outstanding Nature Documentary. Eric Hendrikx studied anthropology at the University of California, Santa Barbara, and forensic science and archaeology at San Diego State University, where he earned his bachelor's and master's degrees. As a journalist and author, he has written for Rolling Stone, Robb Report, and Men's Journal, covering environmental conservation, motorcycle culture, and the intersections of art, music, and adventure. His work has taken him through rural Vietnam, to the highest peaks of the Swiss Alps, and deep into the rainforests and ruins of Central America. He has documented the impact of illegal gold mining on Indigenous communities, interviewed icons like Keanu Reeves, Jason Momoa, and Danny Trejo, and written extensively on resilience, culture, and the natural world-an obsession that led him to co-author Echoes from Eden with Dax Dasilva, chronicling urgent conservation efforts around the globe.
“To research, to document, to witness the destruction of the natural world is no longer enough. The priority now must be to defend it—with passion, courage, and imagination. Dax Dasilva has shown that, armed with these three virtues, we can change the world.” —Captain Paul Watson ""Dax brings to Indonesia the pragmatism of a businessman and the heart of the forest. In conservation, he demands results and accountability on the ground—exactly what we need."" — Chanee, Founder and President of Kalaweit ""Dax demonstrated true leadership in the Congo, stepping into one of the most complex and challenging environments on Earth. While many hesitate to engage with the realities on the ground, he immersed himself—meeting the Congolese and Batwa, trekking into the forests to be with the eastern lowland gorillas, and navigating the intricate layers of conservation. His ability to embrace complexity and act within it is exactly what conservation needs."" — Kerry Bowman, PhD, Founder of Forest Health Alliance ""Dax brings a new dynamic to biodiversity conservation in the Congo, specifically in South Kivu, where for the first time, communities have been entrusted with the right to govern their traditional lands. It’s a monumental responsibility—and a groundbreaking success."" — Dominique Bikaba, Founder and Executive Director of Strong Roots Congo “Echoes from Eden demonstrates the power of action in an age of crisis. Dax Dasilva brings the fight for nature to life with passion and purpose, introducing us to the unsung heroes defending the wild.” — Richard Ladkani, Filmmaker (Sea of Shadows, YANUNI) “These are stories about a network of courageous innovators trying to stop the destruction of our planet and keep species and communities alive. Like the author himself, the stories provide inspiring examples of a new, more tech-savvy, inclusive, and grounded conservation movement focused on producing real results.” — Andrew Day, CEO, BC Parks Foundation “Dax is a true hero—a guardian of the jungle and the Earth. He lives and breathes his mission, to heal and protect our planet. One gentle whisper, one tree, one soul at a time.” — Soleil Moon Frye, Actor and Documentary Filmmaker “Everyone wants to know how to change the world—Echoes from Eden shows how it’s done.” — Paul Rosolie, Founder, Junglekeepers; Author, Mother of God