France, Sept. 17 -- At least 124 environmental defenders were killed worldwide in 2025, Global Witness figures show, as communities from Peru to the Philippines organise against threats ranging from drug trafficking to mining.

At least 2,375 people have been killed since 2012 for defending their land, rights or livelihoods, the group said.

In Kasibu, in the northern Philippine province of Nueva Vizcaya, residents have erected a bamboo barrier and set up a camp to block trucks carrying fuel and equipment to a proposed mining site.

Police, backed by soldiers, arrested 13 people during confrontations in August. All have since been released, but more than 30 legal cases have been brought against members of the community, local campaigner L...