India: Goan Priest and Environmental Activist Fr. Bolmax Pereira Dies at 50

Fr. Bolmax Pereira, a Catholic priest, environmental activist, and educator from Goa on India’s western coast, died of a heart attack on May 26 at the age of 50. His sudden death has shocked communities across Goa, where he was widely known for his outspoken advocacy on environmental and social issues.

Fr. Bolmax was regarded as one of Goa’s most prominent environmental voices, combining scientific expertise, grassroots activism, and pastoral leadership in his ministry. Known for his courage and directness, he frequently challenged government policies and development projects that he believed threatened the environment and local communities.

Unlike many clergy involved in social advocacy, Fr. Bolmax brought academic expertise to public debate. Holding a PhD in Wetlands Ecology, he viewed environmental destruction not merely as a scientific or technical issue, but as a moral and social crisis affecting people, livelihoods, and future generations.

He became especially prominent during the “Save Mollem” movement between 2020 and 2021, which opposed three major infrastructure projects passing through Bhagwan Mahavir Wildlife Sanctuary and Mollem National Park in eastern Goa near the Western Ghats, one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots.

During the COVID-19 lockdown, Fr. Bolmax used church livestreams and digital platforms to spread environmental awareness, presenting scientific research from more than 150 experts in language accessible to ordinary people. His efforts helped connect scientific data with grassroots activism.

In December 2020, he was arrested in Panaji, Goa’s capital city, during a “Save Mollem” protest held on Goa Liberation Day. He later described the incident as a “black day” but remained firm in his environmental advocacy.

Beyond public protests, Fr. Bolmax focused on long-term ecological sustainability. He believed Goa’s future depended on reviving agriculture and reconnecting young people with the land. To support this vision, he founded the Chicalim Youth Farmers’ Club, encouraging cultivation of abandoned farmland and promoting agriculture as a safeguard against unchecked urban expansion.

With his background in wetland ecology, he also became a strong advocate for mangrove conservation along Goa’s coastline. He led initiatives to plant more than 1,100 mangrove saplings in coastal areas such as Sancoale, Cortalim, Velsao, and Cansaulim in South Goa district. He campaigned for stronger legal protection of mangroves, including rare species such as Kandelia candel.

In 2023, Fr. Bolmax emerged as a leading figure in the “Save Mhadei” campaign opposing river diversion plans linked to neighboring Karnataka state in southern India. Activists warned that the project could threaten Goa’s water security, forests, and biodiversity. He helped mobilize public awareness through rallies and motorcycle campaigns under the slogan “Save Mhadei, Save Tiger.”

In recent years, he also spoke strongly against land-use changes and provisions of the Town and Country Planning (TCP) Act, particularly Section 39A, which he believed encouraged destructive development and excessive real estate expansion. He regularly joined protests defending Goa’s forests, wetlands, hills, and agricultural lands.

Fr. Bolmax also contributed to Catholic ecological reflection beyond activism. In the volume Voices of Our Common Home, published by RVA to mark the 10th anniversary of Pope Francis’ encyclical Laudato Si’, he authored an article titled “Laudato Si’ in Goa.” In it, he highlighted initiatives undertaken by the Church in Goa to care for the environment while also outlining the ecological and developmental challenges facing the state.

Fr. Bolmax Pereira leaves behind a legacy shaped by his commitment to environmental justice, scientific integrity, and pastoral courage. Many supporters described him as the “Oscar Romero of Goa,” comparing his fearless advocacy to that of St. Oscar Romero of El Salvador.

For many in Goa, Fr. Bolmax will be remembered as a priest who united faith, ecology, and public action in defense of both people and creation.