Another âguardianâ of the Amazon rainforest has been killed in a battle for illegally harvested timber in Brazil that many fear is ramping up, the Washington Post reports.
Paulo Paulino Guajajara, 26, belonged to a group of armed indigenous âguardians of the forestâ who patrol the forest to stop illegal logging. He was shot in the neck Nov. 1 by a group of illegal loggers while he was collecting water.
More than 300 deaths have been linked to illegal logging in the last decade, according to the nongovernmental Pastoral Land Commission, though analysts say that number is likely an undercount, according to the Post. At least three other âguardiansâ have been murdered by loggers in the past.
Meanwhile, deforestation in Brazil under President Jair Bolsonaro has soared this year, rising 96% year-over-year in September. The first eight months of Bolsonaroâs term have also seen the fewest fines for deforestation infractions in the past two decades, according to the report. A recent report also detailed the influence of a growing number of criminal networks that use violence and intimidation to harvest protected timber in the region.
Guajajaraâs death last week attracted national media attention, and the governor of the northeastern state of MaranhĂŁo announced the creation of a task force to protect indigenous life.
