Irineu Dias Lopes

Brazilian ecologist who pioneered rainforest conservation in the Amazon

Irineu Dias Lopes (1898-1975) was a visionary Brazilian farmer-ecologist who created the world's first privately protected rainforest reserve. Born in Minas Gerais, he abandoned profitable cattle ranching in the 1930s to preserve the Cipó Mountain region after witnessing deforestation. His Serra do Cipó Reserve became Brazil's first officially recognized ecological preserve in 1958, protecting endemic species like the golden lion tamarin. Lopes developed innovative agroforestry systems that balanced farming with conservation, later inspiring Brazil's Legal Reserve requirements. His writings like "The Forest that Gives Life" influenced environmental policies, and his legacy is preserved in the Serra do Cipó National Forest. Despite facing opposition from loggers, he trained over 300 local conservationists through his Cipó Diversity Foundation, making him a precursor to modern ecological movements.