In a stark reminder of the perils faced by those defending the planet, an annual Global Witness report has identified Colombia and Brazil as the deadliest countries for environmental activists. The data, covering 2025, shows 39 murders in Colombia and 26 in Brazil, out of at least 124 documented killings worldwide. While the numbers are sobering, they also reveal patterns that help explain why Latin America remains the most lethal region for environmental defenders.
Background and Scope
Since 2012, Global Witness has tracked the murders of land and environmental activists, noting a consistent concentration of violence in Latin America. In 2025, the organization recorded that 85% of the documented killings occurred in the region, confirming a decade‑long trend. The report covers a range of victims, from indigenous community members to small‑scale farmers, all of whom have been targeted for defending their land or natural resources.
Key Findings
The report highlights several core facts:
- Colombia leads the list with 39 killings, maintaining its position as the top country for four consecutive years.
- Brazil follows closely with 26 murders, a figure that represents a doubling of killings compared with 2024.
- Most incidents are tied to land disputes and involve hitmen or organized‑crime groups.
- Indigenous activists are disproportionately affected; in Colombia, nearly half of the victims were members of indigenous groups.
- Violence often stems from illegal activities such as coca cultivation and unregulated mining, which threaten both ecosystems and local livelihoods.
Drivers of Violence
The report points to a nexus of criminal interests and weak state protection. In Colombia, illegal armed groups seeking to expand coca‑planting territories or exploit mineral resources target indigenous guards—unarmed community patrols that attempt to safeguard their lands. The recent murder of Jacob Guachetá Zambrano, an indigenous guard in the Cauca region, illustrates how these defenders are caught in a broader conflict between criminal networks and local communities.
In Brazil, the surge in killings mirrors escalating battles over land, especially in the Amazon and other biodiverse regions where illegal logging, mining, and agribusiness encroach on protected areas. The report’s researchers note that many of the documented cases involve disputes over land tenure, underscoring the fragile legal frameworks that leave activists vulnerable.
Regional and Global Context
While Latin America dominates the statistics, the report also records that 12% of the murders occurred in Asia, with the Philippines accounting for 12 documented killings. Globally, the total number of documented killings fell from 146 in 2024 to 128 in 2025, but Global Witness cautions that these figures likely underestimate the true scale, as many cases remain unreported.
Implications for Policy and Protection
The findings raise urgent questions for governments, NGOs, and international bodies. Strengthening legal protections for activists, improving investigative capacities, and confronting the influence of organized crime are essential steps. In Colombia, the emergence of indigenous guard networks demonstrates community‑led resilience, yet their unarmed status leaves them exposed. Providing these groups with adequate security measures—whether through formal policing support or community‑based protection strategies—could mitigate the risk of targeted violence.
In Brazil, addressing the root causes of land conflict, such as illegal mining and deforestation, requires coordinated policy action that balances economic development with environmental stewardship. International pressure, combined with domestic reforms, may help curb the impunity that currently fuels these murders.
Uncertainties and Areas for Further Investigation
While the report offers a comprehensive snapshot, several uncertainties remain:
- The exact number of unreported killings is unknown, potentially obscuring the full extent of the threat.
- Motivations behind individual murders, such as the case of Jacob Guachetá Zambrano, are still under investigation, limiting definitive attribution.
- Long‑term trends beyond 2025 are not yet visible, making it difficult to assess whether recent policy interventions will alter the trajectory.
Future research should aim to fill these gaps, ensuring that the global community has a clearer picture of the risks faced by environmental defenders.
Conclusion
The Global Witness report starkly confirms that Colombia and Brazil remain the most lethal environments for those defending the planet. The concentration of violence in Latin America, driven by land disputes and organized crime, calls for urgent, coordinated action to protect activists and uphold the rights of indigenous and local communities. As the world grapples with climate change and biodiversity loss, safeguarding the voices that stand at the front lines of environmental stewardship is not just a moral imperative—it is essential for a sustainable future.