A recent report from Global Witness reveals alarming statistics regarding the safety of environmental defenders, highlighting Colombia and Brazil as the most perilous places for these activists.
In 2025, Colombia recorded the highest number of fatalities among land and environmental advocates, with 39 reported murders out of at least 124 deaths globally. Brazil followed closely behind with 26 killings. The findings indicate that Latin America remains the deadliest region for environmental defenders, accounting for 85% of the documented killings since 2012.
Trends in Environmental Activism
The report underscores that the majority of these tragic incidents stem from conflicts over land ownership and usage. Many of the killings were attributed to organized crime or hired assassins, particularly in regions where illegal activities, such as coca cultivation and illicit mining, are prevalent.
For four consecutive years, Colombia has topped the list of nations where environmental activists face lethal risks. Nearly half of the victims in the country belonged to indigenous communities, with the remainder primarily consisting of small-scale farmers.
Indigenous Protection Efforts
In response to the escalating violence, many indigenous groups in Colombia have established their own protective measures through unarmed indigenous guards that patrol their lands. These guards frequently find themselves targeted by illegal armed groups seeking to expand their operations.
The recent case of Jacob Guachetá Zambrano, a member of the indigenous guard from the Cauca region, highlights the severe dangers faced by these protectors. Zambrano was found tortured and killed, prompting concerns over the prevalence of murders, threats, and forced disappearances as armed factions vie for control over territory.
Brazil’s Rising Threats
Global Witness also reported a troubling increase in the number of killings in Brazil, where the rates have doubled in 2025 compared to the previous year. Similar to Colombia, the primary drivers behind these incidents are land conflicts.
Outside of Latin America, the report notes that 12% of the global murders took place in Asia, with the Philippines reporting the highest number of documented killings at 12. Despite a slight decrease in the overall number of killings from 146 in 2024 to 128 in 2025, Global Witness cautions that these figures likely underestimate the true extent of the violence, as many cases remain unreported.
