The fight for the future of the Amazon rainforest remains as perilous as ever, according to a powerful new investigative podcast series from the Guardian. In the sixth episode of 'Missing in the Amazon', correspondent Tom Phillips returns to the remote Javari valley, the site of the 2022 murders of British journalist Dom Phillips and Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira.
A Persistent and Lethal Threat
Beto Marubo, an Indigenous leader, delivers a stark warning: if Dom and Bruno were to undertake the same expedition in 2025, they would face identical levels of danger. This chilling assessment underscores the relentless pressure from illegal mining, logging, fishing, and drug trafficking networks that continue to operate with impunity. The episode meets the brave individuals who, on a daily basis, put their lives on the line to defend their territory and the forest from these encroaching threats.
Legacy and Ongoing Investigation
The podcast, which first aired on Monday 30 June as part of the Guardian Investigates strand, delves deep into the complex web of organised crime and the faltering efforts to bring the perpetrators to justice. It serves as a poignant tribute to Dom Phillips, whose passion for the region and its music is honoured through dedicated Spotify playlists: 'Songs for Dom' and 'The Mixmag Years'.
In the wake of the tragedy, Dom's widow, Alessandra Sampaio, has founded an institute in his name aimed at promoting education within the Amazon. The series also directs listeners seeking to understand the broader environmental crisis to a three-part Science Weekly series by the Guardian's global environment editor, Jon Watts.
A Collective Effort for Truth
The production of 'Missing in the Amazon' represents a significant journalistic collaboration. Reported and presented by Tom Phillips, it was written by Phillips and Joshua Kelly, who also served as series producer. The team of producers included Poppy Damon, Ana Ionova, and Leticia Leite.
The series features original music composition by Stela Nesrine and powerful artwork by Auá Mendes, inspired by the last known photograph of Dom and Bruno. The executive producer was the Guardian's global head of audio, Nicole Jackson.
By returning to the heart of the conflict, this episode poses the most urgent of questions: is it still possible to save the Amazon? The answer, woven through the testimonies of those on the frontline, suggests a race against time where courage is abundant but security and justice are not.
