Amid the lush biodiversity that marks Colombia as an environmental treasure, threats and acts of violence shadow those daring to defend natural resources. Yuly Velásquez, at the forefront of this difficult battle, embodies the resilience of environmental advocates. As president of a fishers association, Velásquez tirelessly campaigns for clean water in the tributaries snaking through Colombia’s northern industrial sectors. Her efforts, however, have drawn aggressive backlash, resulting in alarming assassination attempts.
Velásquez’s struggles are not isolated. Colombia has been deemed perilous terrain for environmental defenders, with 60 individuals losing their lives in 2022 alone. These figures emerge from a wider pattern in Latin America, where a robust civil society bravely resists escalating encroachments upon their land and resources—often at the cost of their lives.
The Colombian government, recognizing the severity of threats to Velásquez, has provided her with armed bodyguards. Yet, such measures underscore the gravity of environmental activists’ risk and raise questions about systemic issues permitting such violence.
Oswaldo Beltrán, a collaborator with Velásquez, also faces dire intimidation, with assailants targeting his family to silence his environmental advocacy. Despite the perils, Beltrán continues his commitment to the Fishers Association, which seeks to mitigate the damage inflicted on aquatic ecosystems by industrial pollution.
The Magdalena River, a lifeline for many Colombian communities and ecosystems, carries the scars of environmental degradation—discarded waste from refineries taints its waters, impacting local wildlife and the livelihoods of communities reliant on fishing. Velásquez’s vigilant sampling of these waters for contaminants is an ongoing effort to raise awareness and hold polluters accountable.
In the wider landscape, Colombia’s natural richness, hosting the highest variety of bird and orchid species globally, contrasts with the stark realities of remote areas plagued by illicit activities. The aftermath of a peace treaty has shifted dynamics but hasn’t quenched the violence perpetrated by various factions against environmentalists.
While Colombia’s government acknowledges the troubling trend of environmentalist killings, international groups such as Global Witness reveal a grim state of accountability, with most cases of violence resulting in impunity.
Velásquez, though personally confronted with violence, persistently amplifies her voice against ecological damage. Her conviction remains firm: that the stifling of activists through threats and violence is a fear tactic aiming to undermine their fight for environmental justice.
In this intricate tapestry of natural beauty and human struggle, it is clear that the clamor for environmental preservation continues to be a daunting endeavor, threatening those who seek to safeguard Colombia’s environmental heritage. The international community observes, waiting for concrete changes to secure Colombia’s environmental future and the safety of those who advocate for it.
