Why is defending forests so deadly?

The Climate Question

Someone dies every other day protecting the environment, according to data gathered by the campaign group, Global Witness. Even higher numbers of people are attacked or threatened.

To understand why this is happening, the BBC’s East and Central Europe Correspondent, Nick Thorpe travels to the foothills of the Carpathians in Romania, to show us how important the forests there are in fighting climate change, why they’re subject to high levels of illegal logging and consequently, clashes with environmentalists. One activist, Gabriel Păun of Agent Green, describes the numerous and brutal attacks he’s experiences whilst out documenting illegal logging. We also hear from a mother, whose son was murdered when he confronted a ‘wood thief’ in 2019. Laura Furones from Global Witness tells host Graihagh Jackson why this is happening around the world and what we can do about it.

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Produced and presented by Graihagh Jackson. Additional production by Osman Iqbal. Editor: Simon Watts Mixing: Tom Brignell