Deforestation in Colombia fell to historic lows in 2023, environment minister says
Deforestation in Colombia fell to historic lows in 2023, environment minister says
Deforestation in Colombia fell 36% in 2023, the government said. It's the lowest level since record-keeping began, and continues a plunge since leftist President Gustavo Petro was elected in 2022.
July 8, 2024
Deforestation in Colombia fell 36% in 2023 versus the previous year, the government said Monday, marking the lowest level since records began.
This is the best summary I could come up with:
The decline was driven by a drop in environmental destruction in the Amazon, the world’s largest rainforest, including about one-third of it in Colombia, the government of leftist President Gustavo Petro said.
The decrease “means that 44,262 hectares of forest stopped being cut down,” Environment Minister Susana Muhamad told journalists.
Advancing peace talks between the government and guerrilla groups in the area, along with financial incentives for farmers in the Amazon to help with conservation, drove the drop.
Muhamad said Monday the strong presence of government armed forces in these areas as well as progress made with peace talks will be key to maintaining a downward trend.
Mass cattle ranching, drug crops and illegal mining and logging continue to drive deforestation in the Andean nation, Muhamad said.
The data was released as Colombia ramps up to host the COP16 United Nations biodiversity summit in the southwestern city of Cali starting Oct. 21.
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