Colombia and Brazil deadliest countries for environmental activists, report says

Colombia and Brazil were the deadliest countries for environmental activists in 2025, accounting for 52% of documented killings globally, according to Global Witness. In Colombia, indigenous guards are frequently targeted by illegal armed groups seeking to expand territory for coca cultivation or illegal mining, as exemplified by the recent murder of Jacob Guachetá Zambrano. Brazil saw a doubling of killings of environmental defenders in 2025 compared to the previous year, with conflicts over land being the primary driver in both countries. Globally, documented killings decreased from 146 in 2024 to 128 in 2025, though Global Witness suggests these figures are likely an underestimate due to unreported cases. Asia, particularly the Philippines, also experienced a significant number of murders.

In 2025, nature and land defenders were murdered at a rate of one every three days, with 124 killings documented by Global Witness. Organized crime groups and professional killers were implicated in over a third of these deaths, often linked to narco-trafficking and environmental crimes like illegal logging. Latin America accounted for 85% of these killings, with Colombia, Brazil, and Honduras experiencing the highest tolls. In response to escalating threats and reduced international assistance, many communities, particularly Indigenous groups and small-scale farmers, are forming self-defense units to protect their territories. These units, like the Kakataibo Indigenous Guard in Peru, are increasingly necessary as criminal groups expand their operations into remote regions.