According to this German -language article, “the fight against environmental destruction is in no other region of the world as dangerous as in Latin America, every week two environmental activists in the region lose their lives. There is no improvement in sight because of Corona - on the contrary.”
Alex Villca, a Bolivian environmental activist is quoted in the article: “While governments all over the world are arresting us for the corona virus, they are exploiting our natural resources and resources with even more violence .” He “fears that the government and the economy will intensify their policies of extractive activism in these times: “The coronavirus and the associated economic catastrophes will serve as a welcome excuse to rob countries with a great biodiversity—especially countries in Latin America.”
Even before the coronavirus pandemic, environmental activities like Alex Villca had a hard time—”Again and again they have to justify themselves for their struggle, are criticized and dismissed as refusal to progress, who are also paid for by foreign NGOs and can be harassed.” His mother and siblings have been intimidated, and they have received threats that he will be placed in prison.