Interview with a Land and Environmental Defender
We spoke with a defender fighting against the expansion of African palm plantations in Guatemala, facing the indifference of the authorities. Despite the risks, she remains committed to protecting Mother Earth and the rights of her community.
Since 2008, the community of C. — a defender who prefers to remain anonymous due to the criminalization she faces — has witnessed the relentless spread of oil palm monoculture.
In the lowlands of northern Guatemala, companies have cleared large areas of forest and built canals in the river to cultivate this species, native to West Africa, polluting both water and air with their waste. The stench of decay and the proliferation of flies are just two signs of the severe environmental degradation faced by defenders in this region.
As part of her participation in the training process of the United for Environmental and Land Defenders Initiative (STAND), we spoke with C. to learn more about this alarming situation.

"We are suffering various aggressions from the companies operating in our territory, especially the palm companies that are cutting down trees and polluting the air," explains the defender, alarmed by the transformations she has observed since these companies arrived.
"They are expanding onto the land our ancestors cared for. With their money and power, they are invading ancestral lands. They’re not just devastating natural resources—they’re also violating fundamental rights, such as access to clean water and air."
The Indifference of Authorities Worsens the Situation
"Officials, mayors, governors, and members of Congress know what is happening in our territories, yet they do nothing. They’re not interested in stopping these human rights violations and the pollution we are experiencing. Even if they choose to ignore it today, their families will also be affected because, without water, we will all suffer—whether we have power or not. There’s no awareness of the impact these companies are having; they come here only to cause harm to our country," she emphasizes.
As a movement, they have filed complaints against the companies in court, but they’ve received no response.
Filing Complaints Triggered Threats and Criminalization
"If we don’t speak out against these rights violations, we will always be under the pressure of companies or the state trying to silence us. Those of us who have spoken out against dispossession and pollution have been identified, targeted, and criminalized. Some of our comrades have even lost their lives."
Commitment Despite Fear
Despite the threats, this defender does not give up. Her determination is driven by the urgency to protect the land and water for future generations.
"We’ve been threatened; they want to silence us. But if we don’t defend Mother Earth, what do we expect to leave for the children, for young people? Yes, fear exists, but it cannot stop us from fighting—not just for our rights, but for Mother Earth, who gives us life."
"Many people question me for speaking out, for putting my life at risk, but I have this commitment. If the person next to me says, ‘Let’s move forward,’ then we move forward. And if not, they can stay behind—because I have to do something. We must act now. When there’s no river left, when all we see is desert, it will be too late. Today is the time to stand up and say, ‘Stop!’—while we can still feel the rain, while we can still breathe the air," she states with determination.
Collective Empowerment
C. participated in the first sessions of the STAND Initiative’s training process, which began last December, aiming to strengthen the capacities of over 70 defenders from 14 Indigenous and peasant organizations in Guatemala.
For her, the lack of access to information is one of the main barriers faced by defenders.
"Some of us have had the opportunity to study, but others haven’t. Without the ability to read, we lack the precise information needed for our struggle. That’s why these workshops are so valuable. Not only have I gained more knowledge, but I’ve also learned what steps we need to take to continue defending the rights of our comrades. Only by understanding how power works and which laws protect us can we speak out against the injustices we’ve experienced," she explains.
As a woman defender, participating in these spaces also means challenging social norms that seek to confine women to the domestic sphere.
"Machismo limits the participation of many women. It took me years to get involved, but I realized that fighting is my right, too. Preparing ourselves and learning about our rights is essential to defending them."
C. also notes that in some communities, certain families support the companies due to the job opportunities they offer. In this context, raising awareness about the devastating consequences of extractivism is crucial.