---
title: "124 environmental defenders killed globally in 2025, report finds"
publication: "MediaBias News"
url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/124-environmental-defenders-killed-globally-in-2025-report-finds"
api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/124-environmental-defenders-killed-globally-in-2025-report-finds"
markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/124-environmental-defenders-killed-globally-in-2025-report-finds.md"
audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/124-environmental-defenders-killed-globally-in-2025-report-finds"
category: "Politics"
area: "Latin America"
published: "2026-09-16T03:45:53.685Z"
source_reported: "2026-09-16T01:42:39.000Z"
updated: "2026-09-16T03:45:53.685Z"
trust_score: 42
critic_score: 59
hype_score: 20
assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis"
fact_check_status: "not-performed"
coverage_measured: "2026-09-16T05:21:36.927Z"
---

# 124 environmental defenders killed globally in 2025, report finds

*Latin America accounted for 85% of deaths, with Colombia and Brazil being the deadliest countries.*

**Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): 

- Trust 42 of 100, higher is better. One full report and 17 digests provide corroboration, with specific figures attributed to Global Witness.
- Craft 59 of 100, higher is better. The full report provides context and quotes affected parties, while digests offer limited detail.
- Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. The language used is factual and directly reflects the report's findings without exaggeration.

Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology.

**The short version**

- At least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025, according to a report by Global Witness.
- Latin America accounted for 85% of these deaths, with Colombia reporting 39 killings and Brazil reporting 26.
- More than three-quarters of those killed were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendants.
- Land disputes were linked to the majority of killings, followed by mining, logging, and agribusiness.

A total of 124 land and environmental defenders were killed globally in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85% of these deaths, according to a report released by the advocacy group Global Witness. Colombia was the deadliest country for the fourth consecutive year, recording 39 killings, followed by Brazil with 26. The report documented 105 killings in Latin America. More than three-quarters of the victims were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendants. Land disputes were linked to 84 killings, while mining and extractive industries were associated with 11 deaths, logging with eight, and agribusiness with six.

The worldwide toll of killings fell for a second consecutive year, but the report cautioned that this decline does not necessarily indicate increased safety for environmental defenders. Killings remain significantly underreported, and conflicts over land and resources are increasingly converging with organized crime and competition for resources. In Brazil, the number of killings more than doubled from 12 in 2024 to 26 in 2025. The report also noted killings in other regions, including 12 in the Philippines.

## Disagreements in reporting

The Washington Top News report states that 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85% of the deaths. The digest from Handelsblatt reports that more than 100 people were killed and that Latin America remains the most dangerous region for environmentalists, noting a doubling of killings in Brazil within a year. Digests from other outlets also state that at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85% of the deaths.

## What the coverage left out

None of the right-rated digests mention the specific breakdown of killings linked to mining and extractive industries, logging, or agribusiness. The right-rated digests also do not mention the report's caution that the decline in worldwide killings does not necessarily mean environmental defenders are becoming safer, nor do they detail the specific strategies being adopted for community-led protection.

## Who covered it

Shares of the 23 covering outlets with a published leaning rating:

- Left: 56% (13)
- Centre: 31% (7)
- Right: 13% (3)

1 of 24 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-09-16T05:21:36.927Z.

**Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-09-16T05:30:09.765Z.

## How the sides framed it

### Left

- Left-rated reports led on the overall global figures for killings of land and environmental defenders in 2025, highlighting that Latin America accounted for 85% of these deaths. They specified Colombia as the deadliest country with 39 killings, followed by Brazil with 26. These reports also emphasised that more than three-quarters of those killed were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendants. The connection between land disputes and the killings was also a prominent theme, with land disputes linked to 84 killings. Some reports noted the increase in killings in Brazil and the ongoing struggles for ancestral territories.

### Centre

- Centre-rated reports focused on the key statistics from the Global Witness report, stating that at least 124 land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025, with Latin America accounting for 85% of the deaths. They highlighted Colombia as the deadliest country with 39 killings and Brazil with 26. These reports also mentioned that more than three-quarters of those killed were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendants, and that land disputes were linked to 84 killings. The increase in killings in Brazil was also noted.

### Right

- Right-rated reports highlighted that Latin America remains the most dangerous region for environmentalists, with more than 100 people killed. The digest from Handelsblatt specifically noted that killings in Brazil more than doubled within a year. The Washington Times digest also reported the overall figures of 124 global killings and 85% in Latin America, as well as the risk to Indigenous people and small-scale farmers.

**Provisional coverage gap:** right. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding.

## Factuality profile of the covering outlets

These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true.

- mixed: 4
- high: 17
- unknown: 1
- veryHigh: 2

## Verification scope

This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true.

## Original reporting this was written from

- [Noticias ao Minuto](https://noticiasaominuto.com/mundo/3052091/numero-de-ativistas-ambientais-mortos-no-brasil-duplicou-em-2025) — Number of Environmental Activists Killed in Brazil Doubled in 2025
- [Iefimerida](https://iefimerida.gr/kosmos/brazilia-dolofonies-yperaspiston-periballontos) — Brazil: Murders of Environmental Defenders Doubled in 2025 - iefimerida.gr
- [Le Monde](https://lemonde.fr/planete/article/2026/09/16/au-moins-124-defenseurs-de-l-environnement-ont-ete-tues-dans-le-monde-en-2025_6774746_3244.html) — At Least 124 Environmental Defenders Were Killed Around the World in 2025
- [Handelsblatt](https://handelsblatt.com/politik/international/mehr-als-100-menschen-getoetet-lateinamerika-bleibt-gefaehrlichste-region-fuer-umweltschuetzer/100254842.html) — More than 100 People Killed: Latin America Remains the Most Dangerous Region for Environmentalists
- [My Mother Lode](https://mymotherlode.com/news/latin/11142886/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says.html) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [LancasterOnline](https://lancasteronline.com/lavoz/mundo/am-rica-latina-concentr-el-85-de-asesinatos-de-defensores-ambientales-en-2025-informe/article_28056996-d452-5c81-914f-f94b9551f990.html) — Latin America Concentrated 85% of Murders of Environmental Defenders in 2025: Report
- [Santa Maria Times](https://santamariatimes.com/ap/international/am-rica-latina-concentr-el-85-de-asesinatos-de-defensores-ambientales-en-2025-informe/article_dcb59210-32ad-5d0b-b584-449e3e1527da.html) — Latin America Concentrated 85% of Murders of Environmental Defenders in 2025: Report
- [Los Angeles Times](https://latimes.com/espanol/internacional/articulo/2026-09-15/america-latina-concentro-el-85-de-asesinatos-de-defensores-ambientales-en-2025-informe) — Latin America Concentrated 85% of Murders of Environmental Defenders in 2025: Report
- [Inside Climate News](https://insideclimatenews.org/news/15092026/at-least-124-environmental-defenders-killed-in-2025) — An Environmental Defender Is Murdered Every Three Days
- [El Pais](https://elpais.com/america-futura/2026-09-15/america-latina-repite-como-la-region-mas-letal-para-defender-el-ambiente-y-la-tierra-reporto-el-85-de-los-casos-en-2025.html) — Latin America Repeats as the Most Lethal Region to Defend the ...
- [Washington Top News](https://wtop.com/world/2026/09/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says – WTOP News
- [The Toronto Star](https://thestar.com/news/world/americas/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says/article_220ae1f3-ac82-5886-aa05-8b6fbfbe99e9.html) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [The Seattle Times](https://seattletimes.com/nation-world/world/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [Newsday](https://newsday.com/news/nation/environmental-defenders-killings-global-witness-colombia-brazil-x90328) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [The Independent](https://independent.co.uk/news/colombia-global-witness-brazil-latin-america-bogota-b3050859.html) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [Associated Press News](https://apnews.com/article/environmental-defenders-killings-global-witness-colombia-brazil-2e48546eb027159d2bbabc6a4f40e648) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [Washington Times](https://washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/latin-america-accounted-85-environmental-defender-killings-2025) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [WKMG](https://clickorlando.com/news/world/2026/09/15/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [The Independent (US)](https://the-independent.com/news/colombia-global-witness-brazil-latin-america-bogota-b3050859.html) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [WSLS](https://wsls.com/news/world/2026/09/15/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [Bucks County Beacon - News. Government. Politics.](https://buckscountybeacon.com/2026/09/an-environmental-defender-is-murdered-every-three-days) — An Environmental Defender Is Murdered Every Three Days - Bucks County Beacon
- [The Hamilton Spectator](https://thespec.com/life/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says/article_b76a83fb-9526-5b25-a174-fb525f51acf7.html) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says
- [Conservation news](https://es.mongabay.com/2026/09/america-latina-concentro-asesinatos-personas-defensoras-territorio-ambiente-2025-informe) — Latin America Concentrated 85% of the Murders of Defenders of the Territory and the Environment in 2025
- [Winnipeg Free Press](https://winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/life/greenpage/2026/09/15/latin-america-accounted-for-85-of-environmental-defender-killings-in-2025-report-says) — Latin America accounted for 85% of environmental defender killings in 2025, report says

## Questions

**How many land and environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025?**

A report by Global Witness documented at least 124 killings of land and environmental defenders worldwide in 2025. The report indicated that Latin America accounted for 85% of these deaths, making it the deadliest region.

**Which countries had the highest number of killings?**

Colombia was the deadliest country for land and environmental defenders in 2025, with 39 killings. Brazil followed with 26 killings. Together, these two countries accounted for 52% of all documented killings globally.

**What were the main causes of these killings?**

Land disputes were linked to 84 of the 124 killings documented worldwide in 2025. Other causes included mining and extractive industries (11 killings), logging (eight killings), and agribusiness (six killings).

**Who were the primary victims?**

More than three-quarters of the land and environmental defenders killed in 2025 were Indigenous people, small-scale farmers, or Afro-descendants. Specifically, 47 victims were small-scale farmers and 44 were Indigenous people.

---

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