Levi Sucre Romero: Bribri Guardian of Forests, Indigenous Rights, and Climate Justice

By: Nayrelin Reyes Castro

Levi Sucre Romero originates from Bribri Talamanca an Indigenous community in Costa Rica. He is a farmer and specialist with over 2 decades of experience in rural development and community organization. Also, having 15+ years of experience in design, implementation and the evaluation of projects of local and indigenous communities. His focal point is indigenous organization, cultures, and the environment in Central America. Currently he’s the coordinator of Mesoamerican Alliance of Peoples and Forests (AMPB), his organization guarantees and protects land rights of indigenous and forest communities. Additionally, he’s the organizer and manager for the technical side of the RIBCA, a group of eight indigenous territories in Costa Rica. 

His most notable work is his strong advocacy in the fight against forest degradation which contributes to the planet’s imbalance. This accelerates climate change and limits the production of particular foods, increasing threat to health emergencies such as Covid-19 due to the mismanagement of natural resources. As stated by Romero, one of the possible solutions is for the government to spread awareness and create spaces for indigenous knowledge concerning natural resource management policies. He considers know-how a step forward onto protecting biodiversity and to the world. A major attack towards the Amazon forest concluded into weakening environmental protections, indigenous land rights, and the rule of law poses a threat to local and indigenous territories. Shifting the momentum is crucial in the future of climate buffering Amazon forest and success of the Paris Agreement.

​Romero says “25% of medicine (the world) uses comes out of the forest, and by losing the forests. We put in danger future solutions”  This credits him coming forward into protecting the forest's environment as this place is vital for maintaining things we need. His fight continues with going against politics/government as he states “they do not understand”. A visual example of this is his beloved Costa Rica and the happenings regionally, communities, indigenous people and those who live in the forest are a key factor in the protection of those resources and human survival. As a defender, he’s like a guard to these forests at the world level. The continuous fight for global, national, and local spaces through media coverage as videos to demand politicians especially those in developed countries as for the extraction of resources does not lead them anywhere but rather to death.

Something that stood out to me was when he was young a lot of the land was lost and the government gave it to big international companies to grow bananas. That was the moment he realized from a young age that his right had been violated for the economic interests of others. With that in mind he used it as motivation to defend and restore the rights of his community, and merely the Indigenous people of Costa Rica. The reason I admire him is although he doesn’t receive much recognition for his work he looks furthermore on it and continues his legacy.

With his determination and fight for his community and advocacy so others are aware of it. He cares for the sacred land he’s grown up in and wants a better future for the indigenous communities. With his activism he hopes to create a new initiative into environmental and forest activism. I would say it’s far more than creating changes, but rather strive for these Indigenous people’s needs. 


Sources:

• Levi Sucre Romero - Global Landscapes ForumLinks to an external site.
• Levi Sucre Romero - Events at Global Landscapes ForumLinks to an external site.
• 5 Indigenous Climate Activists You Should KnowLinks to an external site.
• Forest Equity: What Indigenous People Want from Carbon Credits - Yale E360Links to an external site.
• Statement on action and more attention on the rights of Indigenous Peoples｜Levi Sucre Romero - YouTubeLinks to an external site.

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