Latin America remains the most perilous region in the world for individuals defending the environment and natural resources. In recent years, numerous advocates have lost their lives, including anti-mining activist Juan López, who was shot and killed in Honduras in 2024. A comprehensive new report released by Global Witness underscores the ongoing crisis and extreme dangers faced by grassroots defenders across the globe.
Global Toll and Regional Concentration
According to the findings, out of at least 124 environmental activists killed globally in 2025, an overwhelming 85 percent of the documented murders took place in Latin America. This makes the region the deadliest place for defenders every single year since the organization began publishing its reports in 2012. The report states that the majority of these killings were tied directly to land disputes and were frequently executed by hired assassins or members of organized crime syndicates.
The Situation in Colombia and Brazil
Colombia has recorded the highest number of murdered environmental activists for four consecutive years. In 2025 alone, 39 activists were murdered in the country. Nearly half of those killed in Colombia belonged to indigenous groups, while many of the remaining victims were small-scale farmers. To protect their ancestral lands, many indigenous communities in Colombia have formed self-protection networks known as indigenous guards. These guards patrol their territories on foot but remain entirely unarmed. Members of these guards are frequently targeted by illegal armed groups seeking to expand territorial control for planting coca, the raw material used to produce cocaine, or to facilitate illegal mining operations.
Just last week, Jacob Guachetá Zambrano, a member of the indigenous guard in Colombia's Cauca region, was found tortured and killed. While authorities are still investigating the possible motives and searching for those responsible, indigenous leaders reported that murders, threats, and forced disappearances are alarmingly common in the area as rival armed factions battle for dominance. Meanwhile, Brazil ranked second globally, recording 26 murders. Global Witness warned that Brazil witnessed a staggering doubling of environmental defender killings in 2025 compared to 2024. Researchers found that, much like in Colombia, the vast majority of documented cases in Brazil were driven primarily by intense conflicts over land ownership and usage.
Outside of Latin America, 12 percent of total murders occurred in Asia, with the Philippines topping the Asian list with 12 documented killings. Global Witness cautioned that although the number of globally documented killings decreased from 146 in 2024 to 128 in 2025, the actual figures are likely a significant underestimate because many cases go entirely unreported.
