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."
As a result of his efforts with local communities in the Amazon jungle, fighting against illegal logging and mining activities, he became the new target at the top of a list maintained by those involved in these destructive practices.