Iracema Matos

Brazilian environmentalist who pioneered Amazon rainforest conservation efforts

Iracema Matos (1912–1978) was a visionary Brazilian ecologist whose grassroots activism laid the foundation for modern Amazon conservation. Born in Belém, Pará, Matos witnessed the devastating effects of rubber boom deforestation and began documenting indigenous knowledge systems as a teenager. She co-founded the Sociedade Protetora da Amazônia (SPA) in 1942, Brazil's first NGO dedicated to environmental protection, which successfully halted a major hydroelectric project threatening the Xingu River ecosystem in 1953.

Matos' landmark 1958 study Amazonia: A Living Library (published in Portuguese and English) exposed the ecological interconnectedness of the rainforest, influencing global environmental discourse. Her 1965 paper on agroforestry systems demonstrated sustainable alternatives to slash-and-burn agriculture, later adopted by UN initiatives. Matos established the first Amazonian seed bank in 1968, preserving over 10,000 plant species threatened by cattle ranching expansion.

Her 1970s campaign against deforestation linked to the Trans-Amazon Highway project drew international attention, leading to the creation of the Xingu National Park. Matos' advocacy inspired future leaders like Chico Mendes, who called her 'the grandmother of Amazonian ecology.' Despite her efforts, Matos faced violent opposition from loggers and was assassinated in 1978 by unknown assailants, making her a martyr for environmental justice.

Today, the Iracema Matos Memorial Center in Belém educates visitors about her legacy. Her principles of 'ecological democracy' continue to guide movements like the Guardians of the Forest, proving her assertion that 'the forest breathes with us – we must learn to breathe with it.'