When homeland protection turns deadly

Every three days, someone is killed for defending nature.

In 2025, watchdog group Global Witness documented 124 such deaths worldwide, a toll that is likely but a fraction of the total because repression and armed conflict make many killings impossible to document.

The victims include Indigenous People, small-scale farmers, and community organizers who peacefully protect forests, farmlands, waterways, and natural ecosystems from harm. The perpetrators of environmental degredation and the killings are extractive industries, criminal syndicates, and governments that profit from environmental exploitation and sometimes go to deadly lengths to achieve their profiteering from mining, deforestation, etc.

On 16 September, Global Witness published a report bringing to light the deaths of these boldest of environmenal defenders. Most of the killings were in South America, followed by Central America and the Phillipines.

In previous blog posts, I've described how Native Peoples serve as protectors of land and water, and are leaders in restoration of nature. And I've seen first-hand the commitment of Native People to safeguarding their natural resources on the Wind River Indian Reservation. These environmental champions deserve our admiration and support for their efforts to protect our planet from greed and corruption.