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

At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed globally in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85% of these deaths, according to a report released Wednesday by environmental and human rights advocacy group Global Witness. The organization documented 105 killings in the region, with Colombia and Brazil accounting for 52% of all documented fatalities.

Colombia saw 39 killings, the highest number in the country since the organization began tracking such cases in 2012, while Brazil recorded 26 deaths. In 2024, Colombia had already witnessed 48 killings, highlighting a decrease of nine compared to the previous year. The report also noted a decline in overall killings, with a total of 2,375 documented since 2012.

However, the group cautioned that this decrease does not necessarily mean environmental defenders are safer, as killings remain significantly underreported.