Francisco Alves Mendes Filho, known as Chico Mendes was born and lived in Acre Brazil, was an environmentalist, political activist, and rubber tapper (he collected latex from a rubber tree). Chico Mendes was a reference in the fight for the environment worldwide and, for this reason, he was noticed by several international newspapers. Journalists followed the routine of the Xapuri rubber plantations to learn more about his activism and the situation there.

  Mendes began his work as a union leader and activist in defense of the Amazon Forest in 1975. In 1987 and 1988, he was awarded for his activism, receiving the Global 500 from the United Nations, and the Environment Medal from the Better World Society.

 Chico Mendes was killed on December 22, 1988, in his backyard, while going out to bathe in an outside bathroom. The activist was shot by Darci Alves, who was following orders from his father Darly Alves, land grabber of the region.

After his death, awards, parks, institutes, and memorials were created to publicize his legacy and honor the leader of the rubber tapper. Some of those are:

-Chico Mendes Institute (ICMBio)

The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) is an autarchy linked to the Ministry of the Environment and is part of the National Environment System (Sisnama).

In 2007 the Istitute was created, by the Law responsible for implementing actions of the National System of Conservation Units. The institute is dedicated to programs for research, protection, and preservation of biodiversity, in addition to having the power of environmental policy in the protection of Federal Conservation Units.

- Chico Mendes Award

The Chico Mendes Award was created in 2002 and is an initiative of the Ministry of the Environment that aims to value and encourage initiatives to protect the environment and promote sustainable development in the Amazon region.

One of his most famous quotes is, “At first I thought I was fighting to save rubber trees, then I thought I was fighting to save the Amazon rainforest. Now I realize I am fighting for humanity.”

https://exame.abril.com.br/brasil/a-resistencia-dos-seringueiros-conheca-a-historia-de-chico-mendes/

https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/biografia/chico-mendes.htm