Forest destruction has decreased significantly in Colombia
In Colombia, forest destruction has significantly decreased last year. According to the government in Bogota, 79,256 hectares of forest - an area as large as the US metropolis New York - were lost in 2023. In contrast, 123,517 hectares were destroyed in 2022. Forest destruction has therefore reached its lowest level in the past 23 years, President Gustavo Petro stated in the online service X.
The most notable decrease was reportedly recorded in the Colombian Amazon region in the southeastern part of the country, where 44,274 hectares of forest were destroyed - 38% less than in the previous year. To "preserve the lungs of the world," Petro urged that the destruction of the Amazon rainforest must return to zero.
Nationwide, forest destruction reportedly decreased by 36%, according to the data. In 2022, a decrease of 29% had already been recorded. According to the Environment Ministry, this development can be attributed in part to a government support program that rewards farmers for nature conservation measures.
The forest destruction also reportedly decreased significantly in the regions of Nariño, Cauca, and Putumayo in southwestern Colombia. Armed groups are active in these regions, with whom the government has been conducting peace negotiations since the end of 2023. There is a "direct link" between the resolution of armed conflicts and a reduction in forest destruction, explained Environment Minister Susana Muhamad.
In this context, forest destruction in Colombia decreased significantly in the Year 2022, with a decrease of 29% compared to 2021. Moreover, In the Amazon region, which accounted for a significant portion of the destruction, the decrease was even more substantial, amounting to 38% in the In the Year 2023.
