Colombia reports 43% spike in deforestation fuelled by climate change, Amazon worst hit

Deforestation in Colombia surged by 43% in the first half of 2024, reversing the previous year’s gains in protecting forest land, according to new figures released by the country’s environment ministry on Thursday.

A total of 113,608 hectares (1,136 square km) of forest were lost—up sharply from 79,256 hectares (793 square km) in 2023, which had marked a 23-year low in forest destruction. The majority of this year’s deforestation occurred in the Amazon region, which accounted for over 65% of the loss, or around 75,000 hectares.

”Deforestation persists,” Environment Minister Lena Estrada said at a press conference in Bogota. ”The most affected territory is the Amazon, a fragile territory.”

Estrada said the increase in 2024 was partly due to forest fires spurred by a drought, fuelled by climate change.

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Land-grabbing for pastures, the expansion of livestock farming, illegal road construction, and more growing of illicit crops such as coca leaves were also primary drivers, she said.

The Amazon region accounted for more than 65% of the total loss, with some 75,000 hectares destroyed.

Colombia is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world and is home to thousands of plant and animal species, although it loses swathes of forest each year to deforestation.

The South American country has approximately 59.1 million hectares of forest, covering more than half its territory.

With inputs from agencies