Chico Mendes (Conservation Heroes)

The life of Chico Mendes tells the story of a humble rubber tapper who became an international hero for his work trying to save the rainforest. Mendes lived and worked in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil until cattle ranchers began buying up land and burning the forest for cattle pasture. He became a leader in the rubber tappers' movement to save the forest and their livelihood by raising international awareness about the deforestation that threatened not only the lives of the rubber tappers but of the world's population. Chico Mendes explores the life, work, and legacy of this man who sought to save Brazil's diverse rainforests.