Insecurity has changed the daily lives of residents, researchers, and land defenders who dedicate their lives to wildlife conservation.
Widespread violence in Sinaloa has limited the work of environmental activists, who are unable to carry out their work freely. While the focus of operations remains on urban areas, criminal acts continue to occur in rural areas.
The Institute for the Protection of Journalists and Human Rights Defenders reported that between September 2024 and August 2025, a total of 138 people were victimized in the state.
This phenomenon affects the entire country. The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) documented 94 attacks against activists in Mexico during 2024.
In Sinaloa, insecurity has changed the daily lives of residents, researchers, and land defenders who dedicate their lives to wildlife conservation.
“Our work is done in the field, from the coast to the mountains. Over the last year, we’ve had to be more cautious and careful,” said Pedro, an activist who asked not to use his real name for security reasons.
Jhenny Bernal, director of the Institute for the Protection of Journalists and Human Rights Defenders in Sinaloa, acknowledged that environmental activism in the state takes place in a high-risk environment, due to the presence of organized crime and conflicts related to land defense.
She explained that the institute maintains close contact with environmental groups in northern, central, and southern Sinaloa, training them on the Escazú Convention, the first international treaty protecting those who defend environmental rights.
Although she did not provide an exact number, she explained that three different groups have been served in Mazatlán, and one group has been worked on in Los Mochis, in addition to holding workshops open to other interested parties.
“Each case is different; we can’t treat them the same way. The protocol allows us to determine the most appropriate measure based on the context,” he indicated.
Among the most common measures are police patrols, the installation of video surveillance cameras, and the reinforcement of homes or workplaces.
According to CEMDA, only one attack was recorded in Sinaloa in 2024, although the organization clarifies that this does not mean there aren’t more cases. Many victims prefer not to report for fear of retaliation or because the attacks are not made public.
Attorney Felipe Romero, a member of CEMDA, warned that Mexico remains one of the most dangerous countries for environmental protection. He noted that attacks are often linked to the arrival of projects with environmental impacts and that most affect indigenous and rural communities.
The attacks range from defamation and harassment to disappearances and homicides. In 65% of cases, Romero said, some authority is involved, which places the State as the aggressor. The most conflictive sectors in 2023 were agriculture, forestry, and transportation.
“We know that in every state there are defenders at risk, even if they don’t appear in the reports,” he pointed out.
Romero stressed the urgency for Mexico to comply with the Escazú Agreement, which requires guaranteeing safe environments for those who protect land and territory. “As long as the structural causes of violence are not addressed, the country will continue to rank among the most in attacks,” he warned.
Violence Persists
Violent incidents continue to occur in rural Sinaloa, affecting the daily lives of its inhabitants. According to official reports, forced displacement of people has been documented in municipalities such as Badiraguato, El Rosario, and Cosalá.
The IPPPDDH reported the implementation of 66 protection, assistance, and prevention measures aimed at environmental activists and communicators in Sinaloa.
Of that total, 20 were assistance measures, primarily social support, in addition to one case of legal advice. Regarding the 31 protection measures, the following stood out: the installation of security cameras in vehicles and homes, police patrols, the activation of SOS 360 emergency services, and institutional monitoring actions.
A self-protection manual and digital security advice were also provided.
The organization documented that 11 people benefited, ten of whom were environmental defenders and one was a journalist. To address these situations, 11 cases were opened: seven ordinary, three for assistance, and one extraordinary.
The attacks recorded totaled 11 cases, including threats, injuries, and discrediting journalistic work. In all the reports, the alleged perpetrators were private individuals, with no indication of the direct involvement of authorities.
Source: oem
