Ernesto Novoa Garcia

Peruvian environmentalist who pioneered rainforest conservation decades before global awareness

Ernesto Novoa García (1905-1972) was a Peruvian botanist whose prescient work laid the foundation for Amazon rainforest conservation. A self-made scientist from a poor Arequipa family, he documented over 1,200 plant species while mapping the Madre de Dios region. His 1940s research revealed the ecological interconnectedness of rainforest ecosystems, predating modern biodiversity theories by decades. In 1955, he convinced the Peruvian government to create the first protected area in Tambopata, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Novoa's most radical idea was the Indigenous Stewardship Model, empowering local communities with scientific training to manage reserves. His Manual de Conservación Amazónica (1968) became the first Spanish-language guide for sustainable resource management. Though overshadowed by later activists, his work influenced the 1971 Amazon Pact between Andean nations. Modern satellite data confirms his predictions about deforestation impact patterns.