BOGOTA, Sept 17, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Nearly 150 land and environment defenders were murdered or disappeared worldwide in 2024, with Colombia accounting for a third of cases, according to a report Tuesday by advocacy group Global Witness.

The global figure of 146 was down from 196 in 2023, said the group, but "this does not indicate that the situation for defenders is improving," with underreporting a problem in many countries.

Global Witness said Latin America had the most killings and disappearances in 2024, with conflict-torn Colombia still the world's deadliest country for environmental defenders.

These can be small-scale farmers, Indigenous people, journalists, lawyers, rangers and others involved in the effort to protect land from invaders or other harms such as illegal grazing or mining.

Colombia -- where drug cartels, guerrilla groups and paramilitaries vie for control over drug territory and trafficking routes -- recorded 48 killings in 2024. This was down from 79 a year earlier.

"Activities ranging from drug trafficking to illegal mining affect areas rich in biodiversity" in the South American country, said the report.

Guatemala was second on the list with 20 killings and forced disappearances, followed by Mexico with 19, Brazil with 12 and the Philippines with eight.