Indigenous environmental defender Victorio Dariquebe Gerewa killed in Madre de Dios

The life of a Peruvian Indigenous leader was taken last week. Victorio Dariquebe Gerewa, a park ranger in the Amarakaeri reserve and the leader of the Indigenous Queros community in Madre de Dios, was trying to protect his community’s territory. Illegal miners are expected to be behind his brutal death^[1]La Republica. (2024). Mineros ilegales detrás del asesinato de Victorio Dariquebe. Link to source.. In the Amazon region, murders of environmental defenders are not isolated incidents.

Header photo: deforestation in Madre de Dios, location not related to the murder of Dariquebe © Tom Laffay

Defending human and environmental rights

Dariquebe was bravely defending the territory of his community and their natural resources against destructive activities, like illegal mining and drug trafficking, which led to multiple death threats last year. The Indigenous leader, who worked as a park ranger for ten years, was recently moved to another ranger post because of these threats, shares the Peruvian news plattform La República. Unfortunately, this could not prevent him from being killed while on his way to his village, along with his son who managed to escape.

Defenders in Madre de Dios increasingly threatened

In 2022 alone, 39 environmental defenders were killed in the Amazon region, according to Global Witness^[2]Global Witness. (2023). Standing firm: The Land and Environmental Defenders on the frontlines of the climate crisis. Link to source.. Peru is in the top ten of the most dangerous countries in the world for Indigenous people defending their territory, together with countries like Colombia, Brazil and Mexico. More than 30 Indigenous leaders were killed in the Peruvian Amazon between 2013 and 2023, according to Asociación Interétnica de Desarrollo de la Selva Peruana (Interethnic Association for the Development of the Peruvian Rainforest).

Madre de Dios is one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, and has 3.8 million hectares of protected natural areas inhabited by eight groups of Indigenous people. At the same time, it is a centre of illegal mining and related destructive activities. Recent satellite reports of MAAP indicate that illegal mining, the cultivation of coca for illicit use and illegal logging are the main drivers of deforestation in the area^[3]MAAP. (2024). MAAP #205: Situación Actual de la Reserva Comunal Amarakaeri (Amazonia Peruana). Link to source..

In 2022, two environmental defenders were killed in Madre de Dios. Threats to park rangers and others defending human and environmental rights have been increasing in the region, according to Sociedad Peruana de Derecho Ambiental (SPDA).

Protecting environmental defenders in Peru

Organisations like the Peruvian SPDA and Federación Nativa del Río Madre de Dios y Afluentes (FENEMAD) in Madre de Dios are trying to support and protect Indigenous environmental defenders. In December 2023, the Peruvian government approved the Ley del Cuerpo de los Guardaparques. This law professionalises the work of park rangers as strategic actors in the protection of Peru’s biological and cultural diversity, to protect their rights and regulate the different aspects of their profession^[4]Ministerio del Ambiente. (2024). Aprueban la Ley del Cuerpo de Guardaparques del Perú: hito histórico en la gestión de las áreas naturales protegidas. Link to source.. SPDA and IUCN NL supported the development of this law through the Protection of environmental defenders project.

The adoption of the law was of great importance, but more is needed for effective protection of (Indigenous) environmental defenders. With the PIDDA project, supported by AFD, SPDA and IUCN NL continue to strengthen Peru’s protection system for environmental rights defenders, applying a gender and intercultural approach.