Because of his work with local communities deep in the Amazon jungle in their struggle against illegal commercial logging and mining operations, "after the American nun Dorothy Stang was shot to death on a jungle road, he replaced her at the top of the death list that loggers, ranchers, miners and land speculators are known to maintain."
His work with local communities in the Amazon jungle led to him replacing Dorothy Stang at the top of a list compiled by loggers, ranchers, miners, and land speculators who have been known to be ruthless in their pursuit of resources.