Diego Mendez

Peruvian environmentalist who pioneered rainforest conservation through indigenous partnerships

Diego Mendez (1925-2001) was a visionary conservationist from Peru whose work with Amazonian indigenous communities redefined environmental protection. A Quechua-speaking botanist, he developed the first participatory conservation model in the 1960s that centered indigenous knowledge systems. His collaboration with the Asháninka people led to the creation of the Reserva Comunal Asháninka, a 1.2 million hectare protected area managed by native communities.

Mendez's approach emphasized sustainable harvesting practices that preserved biodiversity while supporting local economies. His 1968 book Amazonia Viva argued that conservation required cultural preservation, a radical concept at the time. By 1975, his methods had been adopted by UNESCO's Man and the Biosphere Program.

His most notable achievement was negotiating the 1971 Intercultural Conservation Pact between logging companies and indigenous groups, establishing profit-sharing agreements for timber extraction. This model prevented deforestation of 300,000 hectares and became a template for modern eco-certification programs. The Mendez Environmental Institute continues his work today with Amazonian youth.