Global Witness Reports 124 Land and Environmental Defenders Killed Worldwide in 2025

Global Witness Reports 124 Land and Environmental Defenders Killed Worldwide in 2025
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Global Witness, an international organization that monitors threats against environmental and land defenders, reported that at least 124 defenders were killed in 2025, bringing the total number of documented killings and long-term disappearances since 2012 to 2,375 cases.

The report found that more than three-quarters of those killed were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendant communities, groups often involved in defending their lands and natural resources.

According to the organization, land conflicts were associated with more than half of the recorded killings, while more than one-third of cases showed links to organized crime or contract killings. The report also identified connections between some attacks and activities such as illegal mining, logging, and agribusiness expansion.

Latin America remained the most dangerous region for environmental defenders, accounting for 85% of the documented killings in 2025. Colombia recorded the highest number of deaths with 39 cases, followed by Brazil with 26.

Global Witness said the figures represent only documented and verified cases, and the real scale of violence is likely higher because many attacks occur in remote areas or in situations where independent verification is difficult.

The organization called for stronger protection mechanisms for environmental defenders, noting that communities protecting forests, rivers, farmland, and Indigenous territories continue to face serious threats from criminal groups and conflicts over natural resources.