Park ranger reports being harassed and fired for defending Bolivia's protected areas
Source: Digital newspaper “El País”
- Violation of the right to work and job security: He was dismissed despite positive evaluations and without just cause, which shows an arbitrary use of institutional power.
- Violation of freedom of expression: His social media posts and complaints about forest fires and poaching were used as an argument against him.
- Violation of the right to personal security: By exposing his work of denunciation, he was exposed to threats from hunters, illegal miners and institutional harassment.
Marcos Uzquiano Howard – SERNAP
(Violated Defender)
(January 17, 2025)
Marcos Uzquiano Howard, one of Bolivia's most renowned park rangers, was dismissed at the end of 2024 despite his impeccable record and key role in defending the Amazon against poaching, illegal mining, and forest fires. His dismissal by SERNAP, the agency where he was head of protection in the Beni Biological Reserve, sparked criticism and outrage in national and international environmental circles, who interpret it as an attempt to silence those who denounce irregularities in the management of protected areas.
The reaction was swift: the Ombudsman's Office filed an injunction that secured his reinstatement and established protective measures for the park ranger. Even so, Uzquiano warns that the harassment against him and his colleagues persists, in a context where environmental protection clashes with powerful economic interests. His story reflects the vulnerability of environmental defenders in Bolivia, but also the resilience and commitment of those who, like him, refuse to remain silent in the face of forest destruction.