Esteban Mendoza

Peruvian environmentalist who pioneered rainforest conservation decades before modern ecology movements

Esteban Mendoza (1912-1978) was an unsung hero of Amazonian conservation, developing innovative methods to protect Peru's rainforests during the mid-20th century. A self-taught botanist from Cusco, he documented over 800 plant species between 1935-1955, creating the first biodiversity inventory of the Tambopata region. His 1948 《Amazonian Flora》 remains a critical resource for ecologists.

In 1953, Mendoza founded the Amazon Conservation Guild, implementing rotational logging systems that balanced resource extraction with ecological preservation. His 1964 proposal for a protected area in Manu River basin laid groundwork for what became Manu National Park (1973). Though ignored during his lifetime, his methods influenced modern sustainable forestry practices.

His lesser-known work included developing agroforestry techniques with indigenous communities, creating income streams through sustainable harvesting of Brazil nuts and quinine. Mendoza's journals, recently digitized by the Amazon Research Institute, reveal early warnings about deforestation's climate impacts. His story is told in the 2020 documentary 《The Forest Keeper》, though primary sources remain scarce.