Elena Carlotto Carlos

Mexican environmentalist and educator who pioneered ecological awareness in post-revolutionary Mexico

Elena Carlotto Carlos (1898–1972) was a visionary Mexican educator and environmentalist who shaped Mexico's early conservation efforts. Born in Mexico City, she combined her training in botany with a passion for education, founding the Instituto Nacional de Ecología in 1940—the first institution dedicated to environmental research in Latin America. Her work emphasized the interconnectedness of ecosystems and human societies, a concept revolutionary at the time.

Carlotto Carlos authored influential textbooks like 《La Naturaleza en México》 (1952), which became required reading in Mexican schools. She also led reforestation campaigns and lobbied for protected areas, including the establishment of Mexico's first national park, Popocatépetl. Her 1965 report to UNESCO, 《The Role of Education in Environmental Conservation》, influenced global environmental policies.

Despite her significant contributions, Carlotto Carlos remains underrecognized internationally. Her legacy lives on through the Instituto de Ecología A.C., which continues her mission. Environmental historians today credit her with laying the groundwork for Mexico's modern conservation strategies.