CEMDA Report: 59 Environmental and Land Defenders Went Missing in Mexico Between 2020 and 2024

Alarming Disappearances Highlight Crisis

The Mexican Center for Environmental Law (CEMDA) released a new report on January 1, 2026, detailing that at least 59 environmental and land defenders went missing in Mexico between 2020 and 2024. This alarming figure underscores a profound security crisis faced by individuals dedicated to protecting the nation's natural resources and territories.

Gustavo Alanís, director of CEMDA, stated that these numbers reflect a 'critical scenario for the defense of the biocultural heritage in the country'.

Systematic Tactics and Vulnerable Communities

The report indicates that the disappearance of environmental defenders has become a 'recurring tactic to silence local resistances against extractive projects or illicit activities that impact the ecosystems'. CEMDA emphasized that these incidents are not isolated but occur systematically across various regions of Mexico.

Those most affected often belong to indigenous communities or agrarian nuclei, who face disproportionate risks when opposing environmental degradation or asserting their land rights. Indigenous peoples, in particular, bear a significant burden of the violence.

Broader Context of Violence Against Defenders

The disappearances are part of a broader pattern of violence against environmental defenders in Mexico, a country consistently ranked among the most dangerous globally for such activism. CEMDA has been documenting these attacks for over a decade, highlighting the 'persistent structural violence' that impedes defenders' ability to work freely and safely.

The threats stem from opposition to various projects and activities, including:

• Mining
• Urban expansion
• Infrastructure development
• Logging
• Agriculture
• Energy projects

Aggressors involved in these incidents can include government officials, organized crime groups, and private companies. A significant challenge is the prevailing impunity, which, coupled with the fear of escalating violence against themselves or their families, often leads to underreporting of attacks.

Calls for Protection and Accountability

CEMDA's report serves as an urgent call for authorities to implement effective protection mechanisms and to strengthen investigations to locate the missing activists. The organization stresses that the lack of security guarantees not only endangers the lives of defenders but also weakens civil society's capacity to respond to the climate crisis and biodiversity loss in Mexico.

International agreements, such as the Escazú Agreement, are recognized as crucial tools for protecting environmental defenders, though their implementation has been slow. The report positions Mexico as a critical focal point for international attention regarding the precarious conditions faced by environmental activists.