The global biodiversity crisis must be understood not only as an ecological emergency but as a profound crisis of justice. The accelerated destruction of ecosystems is inseparably connected to the violation of human rights, particularly the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, peasants, women and environmental defenders.

The loss of biodiversity is not a neutral process; it is actively driven by structures of power and by the economic models of corporations that privilege profit over life. Industrial agriculture, extractivism, infrastructure megaprojects, and the financialisation of nature are the central forces behind biodiversity decline, and these are largely controlled and driven by transnational corporations. Operating across borders and supply chains, often shielded by complex legal structures and political influence, these corporations frequently act with impunity.

History keeps repeating itself: corporate actors intrude on territories to extract profits, which in turn triggers resistance from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) as their right to decide and self-determination are disregarded. This is followed by the systematic undermining of collective rights, which includes violations of individual human rights through violence, displacement or loss of livelihood. Despite the recognition that the protection of human rights is essential for the defence of biodiversity, global governance frameworks have so far failed to link corporate drivers to ecological destruction and environmental defenders.

Drawing on evidence from grassroots struggles, the report ‘Biodiversity and Human Rights, exposing corporate power, strengthening people’s struggles’ highlights the concrete ways in which biodiversity loss and human rights violations are intertwined. By documenting case studies from across continents, analysing corporate strategies of impunity, and exposing the limitations of voluntary approaches and due diligence processes, the study aims to confront corporate power head-on.

Read the report to learn more about how corporations violate human rights while claiming they are ‘protecting biodiversity’ and what a real system change looks like.