Colombian amazon activist forced from home as country leads world in environmental defender deaths

Jani Silva, a prominent environmental activist defending Colombia’s Amazon rainforest, hasn’t been able to live safely in her own home for nearly a decade. Armed groups have driven her from her residence, forcing her to live under constant threat and rely on a permanent security detail for protection. Her situation exemplifies the deadly dangers facing those who stand up for environmental protection in Colombia.

The South American nation has earned the grim distinction of being the world’s most dangerous country for environmental defenders, with watchdog groups documenting 48 activist killings in the past year alone. These defenders—often community leaders, indigenous advocates, and conservationists—face intimidation, violence, and death for opposing deforestation, illegal mining, and other environmentally destructive activities, particularly in remote areas where armed groups operate with impunity.

While Colombian officials point to their National Protection Unit, which provides bodyguards and security measures for threatened activists, and cite progress in court rulings recognizing nature’s rights, critics argue these efforts fall short. Environmental watchdog organizations emphasize that the government must do more than provide protection—it needs to actively investigate and prosecute those behind the threats and attacks.

The ongoing violence against environmental defenders not only silences crucial voices for conservation but also threatens the Amazon’s biodiversity and its role as a critical carbon sink in the fight against climate change. Until Colombia can ensure the safety of those protecting its natural resources, both activists like Silva and the environment they defend remain at grave risk.