Increasing resilience for human and environmental security

Shared mission for a just future

Safeguard and defend natural ecosystems and biodiversity

Uphold and advocate for human and environmental rights

Our Mission and Vision

Environmental Defenders (ED) Protect and defend the natural environment, and the people and wildlife that rely on it. We envision a world where people and wildlife thrive together in safe, healthy, and ecologically balanced environments.

Deforestation and habitat loss are major drivers of species extinction and are responsible for roughly 25% of global greenhouse gas emissions. In the latest IUCN Red List, over 96,000 species have been assessed, and 27,514 plant species, about 26%, are threatened with extinction. The main threats include climate change, human activities, habitat loss, disease, and invasive species.

Environmental Defenders saves species, protects critical habitats, and manages nature reserves to strengthen biodiversity resilience.

Environmental human rights defenders (EHRDs) are individuals or groups who work peacefully to protect human rights linked to water, air, land, flora, and fauna. They increasingly face intimidation, criminalization, and lethal attacks. We strengthen the safety and resilience of these defenders and of conservation organizations whose work puts them at risk.

Our protection model provides emergency relocation, medical and legal assistance, personal security training, security infrastructure, rapid response funding, and comprehensive preventive measures. We also deliver holistic security and psychosocial support to environmental defenders, community rangers, and forest guards who operate on the frontlines of biodiversity protection.

Through this integrated approach, we enable defenders and conservation actors to continue their essential role in safeguarding ecosystems and community rights.

Programs

To realize our mission, Environmental Defenders (ED) implements a range of integrated activities that protect biodiversity, empower communities, and defend environmental human rights.

Biodiversity and climate

We aim to secure ecosystems and habitat for species, improve livelihoods, and promote sustainable development. Our work contributes to mitigating climate change, restoring natural habitats, and supporting vulnerable communities, especially in low-income regions.

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Community media

Environmental Defenders launched Radio Terra, a community media network with over 5 million listeners that provides rural and indigenous communities with critical information, advocacy platforms, and a space for connection.
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Environmental human rights defenders

Civil society plays a vital role in achieving a just, inclusive, and sustainable future. A vibrant civil society can promote human rights, the rule of law, digital democracy, gender equality, sustainable development, the interests of marginalized groups, and other public benefit objectives.
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Grant Making

Our grant making program is aimed at empowering Indigenous and local communities, grassroots organizations, and frontline leaders who address critical environmental, human rights and livelihood challenges within the Albertine Rift and the Congo Basin region.
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Livelihood security

We promote and support sustainable agricultural practices, gender equity, community health, economic resilience, access to legal aid and land protection, as well as building leadership and political skills among rural and indigenous communities.
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Terra Agricultural Cooperative

Terra Cooperative serves as the social enterprise wing of Environmental Defenders, ensuring financial sustainability for the organization while directly empowering a network of over 50,000 farmers in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
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Latest posts
Uganda’s Suspension of Human Rights NGOs Is Part of a Long Pattern of Shrinking Civic Space and Targeting of Environmental and Land Rights Defenders
Uganda’s Internet Shutdown Exposes How Digital Repression Undermines Democracy, Climate Justice, and the Defense of Land and Human Rights
KILIMO Awards 2025. Community Leadership for Climate, Forests, and Justice in the Albertine Rift and Congo Basin
Freed Bukavu journalist highlights growing dangers for the press in eastern DRC
Environmental Defenders condemns killing of journalist Thierry Banga Lole and warns of rising threats to journalists in eastern DRC
Has Uganda done enough to prevent pollution of Lake Albert by oil drilling?
Environmentalists Decry Inadequate Safeguards against Harm from Oil Production in Albertine
2025 Kilimo Environmental Prize Laureates: A Collective Chapter of Environmental Justice, Resilience and Hope
Guardians of the Wild, rangers at the frontlines of nature and climate
Empowering Environmental Defenders and Indigenous Communities in Ituri

Celebrating Defenders​

The Kilimo Environmental Award, initiated by Environmental Defenders celebrates exceptional contributions by individuals, organizations, communities, and traditional leaders in safeguarding tropical forests and combating climate change within the Albertine Rift and Congo Basin regions. 

Meet the awardees

Highlighting efforts

This prestigious award highlights efforts that directly protect threatened ecosystems and acknowledges grassroots initiatives resisting destructive projects fueling the climate crisis.

Award recipients

Since its inception, a total of 50 individuals and organizations have received the prestigious Kilimo Environmental Award—18 in 2023; 19 in 2024 and 13 in 2025.