200 Environmental and Land-Rights Activists Murdered in 2016: Report

"The victims included protesters who had been pushing back against mining and oil expansion and deforestation, often to protect indigenous lands, Global Witness says."

"Some 200 environmental and land-rights activists were killed in 2016, making it the deadliest year on record as an intensifying battle over shrinking natural resources and climate-cooling forests leads to more clashes.

The death toll, tallied by the UK-based group Global Witness, is the highest since the group began tracking deaths in 2012. The largest number of deaths involved protesters opposing the mining and oil industries. A growing number were linked to efforts to fight off deforestation or encroachment of agricultural companies onto indigenous lands, where native forests act as important carbon sinks.  

The numbers are climbing and so is the reach. Global Witness found that environmental activists were murdered in 24 countries last year, up from 16 countries in 2015.  Brazil suffered the most, with 49 deaths."

Georgina Gustin reports for InsideClimate News July 13, 2017.