Most dangerous countries for environmentalists
Most dangerous countries for environmentalists
With modern-day society's voracious appetite for agricultural goods, minerals, and fossil fuels, the extraction of those resources requires an increasing amount of land. In this quest, neighboring communities .
In 2017, 201 environmental and land defenders were murdered鈥攖he highest total ever recorded. The vast majority of them came from Latin America where 60% of killings took place. With 57 defenders killed, Brazil saw registered in one year in any country. To determine which countries are most dangerous for defending the environment, 麻豆原创 looked a to rank the top 22 deadliest countries for environmental and land defenders. The report uses the number of defenders murdered in 2017, the most recent year for which data is available.
Global Witness defines a land or environmental defender as anyone working to protect the environment. "They are often ordinary people who may well not define themselves as 'defenders,'" the report states. "Some are indigenous or peasant leaders living in remote mountains or isolated forests, protecting their ancestral lands and traditional livelihoods from mining projects, large-scale agribusiness, hydro-dams, and luxury hotels. Others are park rangers, tackling poaching and illegal logging. They could also be lawyers, journalists, or staff at non-governmental organizations working to expose environmental abuse and land-grabbing."
The data shown here only represents reported deaths, suggesting the research is unable to account for extremely remote areas or places where reporting such killings would be dangerous or impossible. Still, the data shows the increased risk faced by environmental and land defenders for protecting their communities, lands, and ways of life. Read on to discover the most dangerous countries on earth for environmentalists.
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#18. Liberia (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 1
Friday Pyne, a forest ranger in Liberia, was of angry miners operating illegally in the country鈥檚 only national forest. Another forest ranger was injured in the attack. Pyne posthumously received the 2018 African Ranger Award from the United States Agency for International Development. His death was a "painful realization鈥 to Liberia鈥檚 Forestry Development Authority that "more security and support was needed for park rangers in all of Liberia鈥檚 National Parks and Protected Areas,鈥 .
Defender: Friday Pyne
#18. Mozambique (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 1
When a coal mining company started fencing off land used by residents to graze their livestock and collect firewood in western Mozambique, nearby residents began protesting. Hussen Ant贸nio Laitone in his home near the site of a protest organized by local residents. He was not participating in the protest.
Defender: Hussen Ant贸nio Laitone
#18. Tanzania (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 1
Wildlife conservationist Wayne Lotter was killed on a car ride to the airport in Tanzania鈥檚 largest city. He had related to his activism. Eight people for Lotter鈥檚 killing.
Defender: Wayne Lotter
#18. Venezuela (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 1
Activist Freddy Menare founded the Indigenous Organization of the Uwottuja Peoples. The group fought against various mining operations, including plans to create a mine near Menare's village in southern Venezuela. He was .
Defender: Freddy Menare
#18. Zambia (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 1
Wildlife ranger Rodrick Ngulube was killed by poachers in Zambia's West Petauke game management area. He and his fellow rangers were tracking poachers the day before. Following his death, an official from the country's Ministry of Tourism and Arts to deter threats against wildlife rangers and to bring down the levels of poaching in Zambia.
Defender: Rodrick Ngulube
#11. Argentina (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
One of the activists killed in Argentina was Santiago Maldonado. He vanished after appearing at an in Patagonia and his body was later discovered a quarter of a mile from where he was last seen. A year after his death, Amnesty International to do more to investigate his death.
Defenders: Santiago Maldonado, Rafael Nahuel
#11. Dominican Republic (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
Lu铆s Manuel Medina and Leo Mart铆nez were colleagues at a local radio station in the Dominican Republic when they were . The two had collaborated on a popular morning news show, which covered social and political issues and refused to stay away from controversial topics. Medina had spoken at length in the weeks before his murder about Laguna Mallen, a polluted lake that is protected in San Pedro.
Defenders: Lu铆s Manuel Medina, Leo Mart铆nez
#11. Kenya (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
Duba Issa and Roba Duba were both in 2017. Ruthless gangs of armed poachers driven by the price of ivory have been known to make life especially dangerous for wildlife conservationists in the country.
Defenders: Duba Issa, Roba Duba
#11. Myanmar (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
Htay Aung, a land rights defender, went to protest the confiscation of land from local villagers in eastern Myanmar. He was beaten to death. The Observatory for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and urged Burmese authorities to carry out an investigation into the murder.
Defenders: Lung Jarm Phe, Htay Aung
#11. Pakistan (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
Poachers killed Inspector Manzoor and Constable Mushtaq in eastern Pakistan, south of Islamabad, while the two officers were . Pakistan's World Wildlife Fund condemned the killing and urged the country to punish those responsible.
Defenders: Inspector Manzoor, Constable Mushtaq
#11. Spain (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
Xavier Ribes Villas and David Iglesias D铆ez were wildlife rangers who were after approaching a hunter who was reportedly carrying an unlicensed weapon. The for Spain鈥檚 wildlife service rangers to be routinely armed.
Defenders: Xavier Ribes Villas, David Iglesias D铆ez
#11. Turkey (tie)
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 2
Aysin and Ali B眉y眉knohut莽u, a retired couple living in a remote forest in southern Turkey, were . They鈥檇 taken on the mining industry and had successfully shut down two marble companies. The man accused of murdering the couple committed suicide in prison.
Defenders: Aysin Ulvi B眉y眉knohut莽u, Ali Ulvi B眉y眉knohut莽u
#10. Guatemala
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 3
Sebasti谩n Alonso Juan was against the construction of a hydroelectric dam in western Guatemala. Indigenous people in Guatemala have routinely protested against environmentally destructive mining and hydroelectric dam projects, and they鈥檝e repeatedly been attacked.
Defenders: Laura Leonor V谩squez Pineda, Sebasti谩n Alonso Juan, Carlos Maaz Coc
#9. Nicaragua
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 4
Celedonia Zalazar Point, an indigenous community judge, and her husband, Tito Jos茅 Gonz谩lez Bendles, were shot and killed on the country鈥檚 Caribbean coast, an area . The double homicide took place in an area within the judge鈥檚 jurisdiction and was carried out by armed settlers interested in agricultural expansion in the region.
Defenders: Camilo Frank L贸pez, Celedonia Zalazar Point, Tito Jos茅 Gonz谩lez Bendles, Felipe P茅rez Gamboa
#8. Honduras
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 5
Jos茅 de los Santos Sevilla, a leader of the indigenous Tolupan people, was . Authorities did not name a motive. Tolupan indigenous peoples from northern Honduras have for speaking out against logging and mining operations that have hurt their community. Though there were fewer murders in Honduras in 2017鈥攆ive compared to 14 the year before鈥攖he country has been the worst for environmental and land defenders per capita, with 128 defenders killed since 2010.
Defenders: Jos茅 de los Santos Sevilla, Jos茅 Alfredo Rodr铆guez, Silvino Zapata, Leodan Manc铆as, H茅ctor No茅 C谩rcamo Castellanos
#7. Peru
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 8
Of the eight land and environmental defenders killed in 2017 in Peru, six of them were farmers , which is plagued by illegal logging. The farmers were killed in a nighttime ambush by a criminal gang looking to seize their land for palm oil production.
Defenders: El铆as Gamonal Mozombite, Jorge Calder贸n Campos, Orlando Burillo Mendoza, Feliciano C贸rdova Abad, Alcides C贸rdova L贸pez, Jos茅 Edil C贸rdova L贸pez, Jhony C谩ceres Gonz谩lez, Jos茅 Napole贸n Tarrillo Astonitas
#6. India
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 11
Mafizul Khan and Alamgir Mullah were in eastern India. They were shot by police in a skirmish with protesters. The West Bengal government offered compensation to the families of the deceased.
Defenders: Alamgeer Sheikh, Mafizul Khan, Daulat Ram Lader, Dharmendra Vala, Jailal Rathia, Pehelwan Singh, Lalita, Uday Yadav, Niranjan Yadav, Vimlesh Yadav, Sharath Madivala
#5. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 13
Jo毛l Meriko Ari and Gerome Bolimola Afokao were wildlife rangers in the DRC鈥檚 Garamba National Park. Of the 19 land and environmental defenders reported killed across Africa, 12 of them were in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Defenders: Jo毛l Meriko Ari, Gerome Bolimola Afokao, Tims Nalola Butinda, L茅opold Gukiya Ngbekusa, Patrick Kisembo N鈥檚inga, Sudi Koko, Antopo Selemani, Lokana Tingiti, Dudunyabo Machongani C茅lestin, Charles Paluku Syaira, Jonas Paluku Malyani, Pacifique Musubao Fikirini, Christian Mbone Nakulire
#4. Mexico
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 15
In Mexico, 13 out of 15 defenders killed were indigenous鈥攎urdered defending their ancestral territories. One of these victims is in the Sierra Madre Mountains from strongmen, drug traffickers, and loggers. He was shot and killed by a suspected hitman.
Defenders: Marciano Mart铆nez Cruz, Rafael Hern谩ndez Cisneros, Isidro Baldenegro L贸pez, Juan Ontiveros Ramos, Benjam铆n Ju谩rez Jos茅, Jos茅 Carlos Jim茅nez Cris贸stomo, Luis Gustavo Hern谩ndez Cohenete, Francisco Jim茅nez Alejandre, Santiago Luna Crisanto, Miguel 脕ngel V谩zquez Torres, Agust铆n V谩zquez Torres, Rodrigo Guadalupe Huet G贸mez, Pablo Andr茅s Jim茅nez, Gabriel Ramos Olivera, Felipe Ram铆rez
#3. Colombia
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 24
Colombia has been in the top three worst countries for defenders since Global Witness began tracking killings in 2002. Of the 24 activists killed in 2017, one was on land stolen from his community.
Defenders: Aldemar Parra Garc铆a, Jos茅 Yeimer Cartagena, Edmiro Le贸n Alzate Londo帽o, Yoryanis Isabel Bernal Varela, Edilberto Cantillo Meza, Falver Cer贸n G贸mez, Eder Cuetia Conda, Ruth Alicia Lopez Guisao, Javier Oteca Pilcu茅, Gerson Acosta Salazar, Nelson Fabra D铆az, Jorge Arbey Chantr茅 Achipiz, Daniel Felipe Castro Basto, Mario Andr茅s Calle Correa, Ezequiel Rangel Romano, Luis Edilson Arango Gallego, Manuel Ram铆rez Mosquera, Esquivel Manyoma, Efigenia Vasquez Astudillo, Oscar Ferney Tenorio, Aulio Isarama Forastero, Mario Jacanamijoy, Mario Casta帽o Bravo, Hern谩n Bedoya
#2. Philippines
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 48
In 2017, the Philippines saw almost a 71% rise in the killing of defenders from the previous year鈥攖he most murders ever recorded in Asia in a single year. Of the 48 activists killed, eight of them were tribe members after the military descended on their village and opened fire following a land dispute over a coffee plantation.
Defenders: Datu Venie Diamante, Mario Contaoi, Veronico "Nico鈥 Delamante, Alexander Ceballos, Wencislao Pacquiao, Renato Anglao, Alejandro Laya-Og, Orlando Eslana, Mia Manuelita Mascari帽as-Green, Edweno 鈥楨dwin鈥 Catog, Willerme Agorde, Gilbert Bancat, Ramon Dagaas Pesadilla, Leonila Tapdasan Pesadilla, Pedro Pandagay, Cora Molave Lina, Arman Almonicar, Arlyn Almonicar, Danilo Ruiz Nadal, Bernardo Calan Ripdos, Jerry Cuyos, Jocel Rosales, Rodolf Tagalog Jr., Federico "Pande鈥 Plaza, Lito Casalla, Ande Latuan, Carolina Arado, Boy Ca帽ete, Roger "Titing" Timboco, Lomer Gerodias, Engracio de los Reyes, Obillo Bay-ao, Ruben Arzaga, Webby Argabio, Perfecto Hoyle, Elisa Badayos, Eleuterio Moises, Lando Moreno, Rodrigo Timoteo, Datu Victor Danyan, Victor Danyan Jr., Artemio Danyan, Pato Celardo, Samuel Angkoy, To Diamante, Bobot Lagase, Mateng Bantel, Marcelito "Tito鈥 Paez
#1. Brazil
Number of land and environmental defenders murdered in 2017: 57
The majority of defenders targeted in Brazil in 2017 were killed defending the Amazon. In one of the largest attacks of 2017, over a land dispute. No deaths were reported, but the attack left 22 people severely injured, some with their hands cut off.
Defenders: Cear谩, Roberto Santos Ara煤jo, Elivelton Castelo Nascimento, Jos茅 Caneta Gavi茫o, S么nia Vicente Cacau Gavi茫o, Orestes Rodrigues de Castro, Renato Souza Benevides, Xukuru-Kariri Dami茫o Lima da Silva (D茫o), Waldomiro Costa Pereira, Raimundo Silva (Umbico), Aldo Aparecido Carlini, Edson Alves Antunes, Ezequias Santos de Oliveira, F谩bio Rodrigues dos Santos, Francisco Chaves da Silva, Izaul Brito dos Santos, Samuel Ant么nio da Cunha, Sebasti茫o Ferreira de Souza, Valmir Rangeu do Nascimento, Silvino Nunes Gouveia, K谩tia Martins, Etevaldo Soares Costa, Paulo S茅rgio Bento Oliveira, Weldson Pereira da Silva, Nelson Souza Milhomem, Weclebson Pereira Milhomem, Ozeir Rodrigues da Silva, Jane Julia de Oliveira, Regivaldo Pereira da Silva, Ronaldo Pereira de Souza, Bruno Henrique Pereira Gomes, Antonio Pereira Milhomem, H茅rcules Santos de Oliveira, Valdenir Juventino Izidoro (Lobo), Manoel Quintino da Silva Kaxarari, Ademir de Souza Pereira, Rosenilton de Almeida, Raimundo Mota de Souza Junior, Lindomar Fernandes Martins, Manoel 脥ndio Arruda, Maria da Lurdes Fernandes Silva, Adeilton Brito de Souza, Amauri Pereira Silva, Cosme Ros谩rio da Concei莽茫o, Gild谩sio Bispo das Neves, Marcos Pereira Silva, Valdir Pereira Silva, Edilson Pereira dos Santos, Jorge Matias da Silva, Eraldo Moreira Luz, Fl谩vio Gabriel Pac铆fico dos Santos, Jo茫o Ferreira dos Santos, Hugo Rabelo Leite, Fl谩vio Lima de Souza, Marinalva Silva de Souza, Jairo Feitosa Pereira, Fernando Pereira
