Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed around the world last year, with Latin America accounting for 85% of the deaths as conflicts over land and natural resources continued to put Indigenous people and small-scale farmers at risk, according to a report released Wednesday. The annual report by environmental and human rights advocacy group Global Witness documented 105 killings in Latin America in 2025. Colombia was the deadliest country for the fourth consecutive year, with 39 killings, followed by Brazil with 26. Honduras and the Philippines recorded 12 each. Land and environmental defenders are people who work to protect their land, natural resources and communities from threats such as mining, logging, agribusiness and other development, often by documenting environmental damage, organizing communities or patrolling territory.

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