{
  "id": 7785668,
  "title": "At Least 124 Environmental Defenders Killed Worldwide Last Year",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/16/at-least-124-environmental-defenders-killed-worldwide-last-year",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-16T12:25:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yale Environment 360",
    "slug": "yale-environment-360",
    "url": "https://e360.yale.edu/digest/environmental-defenders-killed-2025"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In 2023, a total of 124 individuals were killed for advocating the protection of their forests, farms, or waterways, according to a concerning report released by Global Witness. The organization's senior campaigner, Juliana Vélez Echeverri, highlighted the negative impact of reduced foreign aid from wealthy nations on human rights groups supporting environmental defenders. The report disclosed that land disputes were responsible for over half of the killings of environmental defenders, while Indigenous people made up approximately one-third of the victims. Latin America emerged as the deadliest region for defenders, accounting for 85 percent of the killings, a title it has held consistently since 2012. Colombia and Brazil emerged as the countries with the highest number of killings, with Colombia recording 39 murders and Brazil following with 26. The surge in coca cultivation, a key ingredient in cocaine production, has led to conflicts over land, placing defenders at risk of becoming targets of drug traffickers in Colombia. In Brazil, killings were predominantly concentrated near the edges of the Amazon rainforest, where illegal mining, logging, and ranching activities are encroaching on the ecosystem. The Philippines remained the deadliest country in Asia, with 12 killings reported last year, as armed forces intensified their crackdown on activists. While killings were comparatively lower in other parts of Asia, the report also pointed to Indonesia's recent move to criminalize activism and the manipulation of political opponents through online smear campaigns in Russia and Central Asian nations.",
  "summary": "At least 124 people were murdered last year for defending their forests, farms, or waterways from destruction or degradation, according to a stark new report. Its authors say that deep cuts to foreign aid by wealthy nations have weakened human rights groups that support environmental defenders. Read more on E360 →",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}