Colombia Reports Deforestation Drop, New Reserves

Colombia’s outgoing government presented its environmental record on July 11, highlighting a 36% reduction in national deforestation and 41% in the Amazon compared to 2021. Minister Irene Vélez announced the creation of two new reserves, one spanning 1.5 million hectares in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and another covering 48.3 million hectares of the Amazon rainforest, and cited initiatives like “Conservar Paga” which supported nearly 7,000 families.

However, the incoming administration, led by Fabio Arjona, has questioned the effectiveness of some policies. Arjona stated a proposed Amazon reserve resolution is merely symbolic and could encourage illegal mining.

He also criticized the pausing of funds for protected area maintenance. The outgoing government secured 1.4 trillion pesos through a special agreement for forest revitalization, though Vélez acknowledged this is insufficient for full ecosystem restoration.

Despite overall progress, deforestation increased by 43% in 2024 compared to 2023, largely influenced by armed groups. The government aims to restore 754,000 hectares of land and reduce deforestation further, but faces challenges in securing long-term funding and political support.