Cattle and Coca Fuel Amazon Deforestation in Colombia

In Colombia’s Amazon, cattle ranching and illegal coca cultivation are driving deforestation and financing armed groups. A decade after peace agreements with the FARC guerilla group, land occupation for pasture and coca crops continues to accelerate forest loss. Between 2015 and 2024, the Colombian Amazon lost nearly 800,000 hectares of native forest—the fastest rate in 40 years.

The expansion of cattle ranching, often involving land grabbing even within protected areas and Indigenous territories, is less about beef production and more about claiming and valuing land. This activity is further complicated by ongoing violence, with armed factions extorting ranchers and controlling territory. While the government has implemented programs to substitute illicit crops, a significant portion of beneficiaries have invested in cattle, increasing the national herd by 86% between 2017 and 2024.

Recent reports indicate a nearly 90% increase in illegal coca plantations within the Amazonian deforestation arc between 2019 and 2023. Despite some initiatives promoting sustainable agriculture and conservation agreements, the lucrative nature of cocaine—potentially generating over $150 million per production cycle—continues to pose a significant challenge. The Dialogue Earth reported that the Colombian Ministry of Environment did not respond to requests for comment on other strategies adopted.