Almost 200 people killed last year trying to defend the environment, report finds

Latin America was the most deadly region in which to defend ecosystems from mining and deforestation, with Indigenous people among half the dead

Patrick Greenfield
Mon 9 Sep 2024 19.01 EDT


At least 196 people were killed last year for defending the environment, with more than a third of killings taking place in Colombia, new figures show.

From campaigners who spoke out against mining projects to Indigenous communities targeted by organised crime groups, an environmental defender was killed every other day in 2023, according to a new report by the NGO Global Witness.

Colombia, Brazil, Mexico and Honduras were the most deadly countries for people trying to protect their lands and ecosystems, making up more than 70% of all recorded killings globally.

Global Witness said that it was often difficult to establish a direct driver of the killings, with many going unpunished, but it found that mining was the biggest factor last year with 25 killings related to the industry.

More:
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/article/2024/sep/09/almost-200-people-killed-last-year-trying-to-defend-the-environment-report-finds-aoe