Data: Three environmental defenders are killed each week
An Indigenous land defender, Efraín Fueres, was killed during protests in Ecuador, a stark example of a grim global trend: on average, three environmental defenders are killed or disappear each week. The unrest erupted after the government scrapped a diesel subsidy and imposed a sweeping state of emergency, with reports of troops in communities and communications blackouts. President Daniel Noboa has also moved toward rewriting the constitution, a step critics say could weaken protections for nature and Indigenous peoples. The case highlights how conflicts over land, mining and austerity collide with human rights. See reporting by Inside Climate News, corroborating updates from AP News, and global context from Global Witness.
The killing of Efraín Fueres in Ecuador has become a symbol of a wider crisis. He was shot amid mass demonstrations over rising living costs and a government crackdown that opponents say targets Indigenous and environmental activists. Authorities declared a state of emergency, deployed troops and restricted communications in several provinces. The country’s leadership insists the fuel subsidy reforms are necessary and has warned it will not reverse course. Protest leaders and human rights groups counter that the measures criminalize dissent and escalate violence, and prosecutors have opened inquiries into alleged excessive force. See coverage by AP News and El País.
The tragedy lands as President Daniel Noboa advances plans to rewrite the constitution. Legal scholars and advocates warn that weakening Ecuador’s pioneering “rights of nature” and Indigenous protections would mark a dramatic reversal of the 2008 charter’s legacy. Rights groups also point to financial freezes on civil society organizations and restrictions on assembly as signs of a deeper democratic backslide. Background via Inside Climate News.
Beyond Ecuador, the numbers are sobering. Recent data compiled by Global Witness indicate that defenders continue to face lethal risks worldwide, with Latin America consistently the deadliest region. Their 2024 tally translates to roughly three people killed or disappeared each week, many linked to land disputes, mining, logging and agribusiness. Read the latest figures from Global Witness and overview materials here: Global Witness — Land & Environmental Defenders.
For communities on the front lines, each loss is personal and political. Fueres’ death has galvanized calls for independent investigations, the restoration of civil liberties and security sector accountability. It has also reignited debate over how to safeguard Indigenous rights and constitutional environmental guarantees during economic crises. As Ecuador’s constitutional debate unfolds, the outcome will signal whether the country doubles down on its environmental commitments or retreats from them — with consequences likely to be felt far beyond its borders. See the explainer video from Inside Climate News.