AP team reports exclusively on failed river protection program in Colombia

By Steven Grattan, Ivan Valencia and Marko Alvez

AP lands exclusive on river protection program by traveling to dangerous area of Colombia, documenting illegal mining and getting subjects to open up about risks. 

In an exclusive report, an AP team showed that a program in northwestern Colombia that designated “guardians” to help protect the Atrato River, one of the country’s largest and the source of livelihood for Afro-Colombian residents, had largely failed. In April, the ombudsman for Colombia’s human rights office had warned that no progress had been made since the river was granted “personhood status” in 2016 to combat illegal gold mining and the accompanying flooding, pollution and ecological damage. That prompted Colombia-based climate reporter Steven Grattan to dig deeper. Sources told him of areas where the situation was particularly bad — and dangerous, as gangs involved in the mining controlled large swaths of the river. 

Grattan and visual journalists Ivan Valencia and Marko Alvarez headed there and were beset by difficulties. While traveling on the river, the three were stopped by a gang who asked numerous questions and warned them not to film or photograph any of the mines along the river. Getting people to talk was also difficult because of fear of reprisal. And finally, it being a tropical area, the weather played a role: one day it rained so hard that the team couldn’t go out at all. 

But the team was able to get several guardians who have received death threats to speak openly about the risks and environmental degradation. They interviewed and photographed locals who did small-scale legal mining.  

Flying a drone, Valencia was also able to capture an illegal mining encampment and areas of deforestation.  

The story shed light on the disenchanted efforts of the guardians as well as the failure by the state to keep its promises to help protect the area. It also gave voice to people who are often overlooked by the government and media organizations.

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