Fight for Survival as Environmental Defenders Targeted in Colombia

Since 2016, 248 environmental defenders have been murdered in Colombia, with the vast majority being Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and rural community leaders. These activists face extreme violence as they protect the land, biodiversity, and natural resources from destructive forces.

Environmental Defenders, Not Traditional Politicians

While political conflicts often dominate headlines in Colombia, a silent war is being waged against environmental defenders, whose fight is not about gaining power but about preserving the environment and protecting the lands of Indigenous, Afro-descendant, and rural communities. These defenders are not traditional politicians seeking electoral gains; they are advocates striving to preserve natural resources, biodiversity, and the rights of their communities in the face of relentless violence.

According to a report from the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR), a staggering 248 environmental defenders have been murdered in Colombia between 2016 and 2024. Of those killed, 89% were Indigenous, Afro-descendant, or rural leaders—people intimately connected to the lands they defend. Their deaths underscore the disproportionate violence these communities face in regions rich in natural resources.

Their activism encompasses a range of critical issues: protecting water sources, opposing destructive mining practices, and defending biodiversity. Yet, their advocacy places them in the crosshairs of powerful, often violent, interests that view environmental protection as an obstacle to profit. As the global community focuses on political crises, the death toll among Colombia’s environmental defenders continues to rise, exposing the harsh reality that those who safeguard nature are often the most vulnerable.

A Growing Crisis: 2023’s Alarming Rise in Murders

The violence against environmental defenders has escalated dramatically in recent years. In 2016, 14 activists were murdered—a tragic number by any measure—but by 2023, that number had skyrocketed to 44, marking the most lethal year for environmental defenders since the UN began tracking these killings. The murders in 2023 represent a growing crisis that is being exacerbated by Colombia’s environmental and socio-political landscape.

The defenders face not only physical violence but also a climate of fear and intimidation designed to silence their activism. The threats come in many forms: surveillance, harassment, physical assaults, and even attempts on their lives. In a country with deep-rooted conflicts and a history of violence, these threats often materialize into murder. The killers typically operate with impunity, and the cycle of intimidation and violence continues unchecked.

The danger grows with each passing day for the environmental defenders who remain. The psychological toll is immense, and many are forced to make the impossible decision to either continue their advocacy or flee their homes, abandoning the communities and lands they have long fought to protect. In the face of such danger, the resilience of these defenders is extraordinary, but without stronger protections and accountability, their numbers may continue to dwindle.

The Most Dangerous Regions for Defenders

Certain regions of Colombia are particularly perilous for environmental defenders. The Pacific region tops the list with 138 murders, followed by the Amazon (24), Orinoquía (21), and other biodiversity-rich areas. These regions are home to some of the world’s most precious ecosystems and communities that depend on these environments for their survival. Unfortunately, these areas are also hotspots for illegal mining, deforestation, and armed group activity, making them flashpoints for violence.

The defenders in these regions are up against powerful forces prioritizing economic gains over environmental preservation. Illegal armed groups, drug traffickers, and corporations all have a vested interest in exploiting the natural resources found in Colombia’s forests, rivers, and mountains. As defenders stand in their way, protecting ecosystems from destruction and resisting the encroachment of harmful practices like fracking and deforestation, they become targets for assassination.

The lack of solid governmental oversight compounds the danger. Fragmented and weak institutional responses to environmental violations allow these groups to operate with relative impunity. The result is a deadly combination of rich natural resources, insufficient protection, and powerful actors willing to eliminate anyone in their way.

Corporate and Armed Group Interests

The violence faced by environmental defenders in Colombia is not random; it is deeply tied to economic and territorial interests. According to the OHCHR report, 66% of the killings were carried out by illegal armed groups, while another 4% were linked to local political and economic interests. This deadly intersection of corporate greed and armed violence has turned Colombia into one of the most dangerous places in the world for environmental defenders.

Many of these murders are linked to conflicts over land and resource use. Environmental defenders frequently oppose large-scale projects such as mining, logging, and dam construction, which threaten the lands and livelihoods of Indigenous and rural communities. As they speak out against these destructive practices, they face escalating threats from those who stand to profit from environmental degradation.

These threats are not limited to the rural and remote areas of Colombia. As the report notes, some of the most dangerous regions for defenders are also the most economically valuable. Illegal mining operations, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices are rampant, and as long as these activities remain profitable, environmental defenders will remain at risk.

The involvement of corporate interests only adds to the situation’s complexity. Some defenders have been killed for opposing mining operations, denouncing deforestation, or criticizing the environmental impacts of hydroelectric projects. Their work often pits them against powerful corporations that prioritize profit over the well-being of local ecosystems and communities. These companies frequently operate in areas where armed groups offer protection, further blurring the lines between economic and political violence.

The ongoing violence against environmental defenders in Colombia is not simply a matter of politics—it is a battle over the future of the country’s natural resources and the communities that depend on them. The murders of these defenders reflect the broader struggles for land, water, and sustainable development in a country that is rich in biodiversity but plagued by corruption, weak governance, and violent conflicts over resource control.

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The international community must pay closer attention to these crimes and take steps to protect environmental defenders, especially in regions where corporate and armed group interests intersect. To achieve a sustainable future, the voices of those protecting our planet must be heard—and they must be protected.