Chico Mendes
Chico Mendes fought to protect the Amazon and indigenous peoples from the encroachment of cattle ranchers and other
developers. After becoming the leader of the rubber tappers union in Acre state, he worked to establish extractive
reserves set aside for the exclusive use in a sustainable manner by rubber tappers. His efforts made him a number
of enemies among powerful farmers and ranchers who would rather turn rainforest into pasture land and agricultural
fields and he received countless death threats. Three days before Christmas in 1988, Chico Mendes was assassinated
at his home. His death made him an immediate martyr for the rubber tapper cause. More than ever before, people
began supporting his ideals of sustainable use.
