124 land defenders killed in 2025 amid Trump-driven lawlessness and aid cuts

Filed by Elara Myst

 “When foreign aid retreats, Indigenous peoples and small-scale farmers can be left with fewer resources and less support as they defend the forests, rivers, and other ecosystems that sustain their communities and help keep the global climate stable,” one campaigner said.Olivia RosaneSep 16, 2026 A total of 124 people were killed defending the environment in 2025, according to a Global Witness report released Wednesday, as the global rise of authoritarianism and a dramatic decline in ...