Blood on the Borders: A Looming Crisis for Environmental Defenders The statistics are stark and heartbreaking: 124 land and environmental defenders killed worldwide in 2025, with Latin America accounting for a staggering 85% of those deaths.
Behind these numbers lies a complex web of conflicts over resources, territory, and power – a crisis that threatens not just the lives of those fighting to protect their lands but also the future of our planet.
Organized crime plays a significant role in these killings, according to Global Witness reports.