Colombia

From the Darien rainforest in Chocó to the national parks of the Amazon, from the grasslands of Cesar and the forests of the Pacific to the banks of the Magdalena, Cauca and San Jorge rivers, violence against communities who have dedicated their lives to preserving their natural surroundings has increased dramatically. In today’s Colombia, even after a landmark peace agreement that ended a 50-year-old armed conflict, being an environmental defender is a titanic, underappreciated and often silenced labor.