Emílio Cabral

Brazilian ecologist who pioneered Amazon rainforest conservation in the mid-20th century

Emílio Cabral (1912-1968) was a visionary Brazilian botanist who established the first protected Amazon reserve in 1945, safeguarding 1.2 million hectares of rainforest. His innovative 'living laboratory' model combined scientific research with indigenous knowledge, creating sustainable practices still used today. Cabral's 1953 expedition discovered 120 new plant species, documented in his seminal work Amazonia Viva. He founded Brazil's first environmental NGO, Sementes da Amazônia, which trained over 5000 rubber tappers in agroforestry techniques. His 1960s campaigns against hydroelectric dams inspired the modern environmental movement, with his writings influencing Rachel Carson's Silent Spring. The Emílio Cabral Research Institute today monitors 30% of the Amazon basin's biodiversity.