banner for global witness land and environmental defenders campaign, three profile photos of defenders

Land and Environmental Defenders

Hundreds of land and environmental defenders are threatened, arrested and killed every year for their part in resisting environmental devastation. We record every name and honour their activism.

Defenders and Indigenous Peoples are often our planet’s last line of defence, sounding the alarm about threats to vital ecosystems and incursions upon their communities from destructive companies. In return, they face land invasions, harassment and violence, with a worrying rise in criminalisation hitting environmental activists worldwide. We work to expose the root causes behind these attacks to ensure defenders are protected, and that those responsible are held to account.

Land and Environmental Defenders: Annual Report archive

Since 2012, we’ve been reporting annually on killings of Land and Environmental Defenders around the world.

View the reports

Latest

By region
By topic