In recent weeks, the figures on deforestation in Colombia presented by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, after analyzing the reports of the Forest and Carbon Monitoring System of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam). According to the portfolio, in the last two decades 3.1 million hectares of forest have been deforested in the country, being the Colombian Amazon, the most affected sector.
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According to the ministry, in the period between 2001 and 2021, the Amazon lost at least 1.8 million hectares (ha), which estimated an average of 88,490 ha, annually. Likewise, it was assured that compared to the first semester of 2021, deforestation in this area of the country in the first six months of 2022 increased by 11% with 54,460 ha and it is estimated that the upward trend will continue.
The figures indicate that during the first quarter of 2021, at least 45,000 hectares were deforested in the country, figure that increased to 50,400 for the same period of 2022.
Likewise, according to Minambiente, in the second semester, “the first rainy season in the country”, in 2021, 1,520 hectares were deforested, while in 2022, the figure again increased to 2,060 hectares.
According to the Ideam’s Early Detection of Deforestation Bulletin – DTD, for the second quarter of this year, early detections by natural regions, were estimated in the Amazon with 43.6%, followed by the Andes region, where the figure reached 29.1%, the same as the Colombian Caribbean, where detection was 18.6%, and in the Pacific with 8.7%.
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For her part, Susana Muhamad, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, stated that “you have to see what is being left behind and the cumulative impact that deforestation has. We are losing connections, which is what sustains water and is essential for agriculture. If we want to be Colombia World Power of Life we not only have to stop deforestation but restore”.
Deforestation not only brings with it effects on the environment, but also on the economic sector. Hernán Felipe Trujillo, professor at the Catholic University of Colombia, assures that, “There are direct and indirect effects. In contrast to the former, they affect the economic sectors due to the loss of soil production (…) For example, if one hectare of the Amazon or Chocó is deforested, nutrients and the capacity of the soil to generate economic activities related to to agricultural activity”.
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Similarly, the expert assures that indirect effects are the most serious since “a good part of the provision of environmental services in the country depends on what happens to the forests. When there is loss of forest there is a loss of ecosystem resources that affect the industry, it is like thinking of a Bogotá without water, the loss of economic value must be considered.”
in the period between 2001 and 2021, the Amazon lost at least 1.8 million hectares (ha),
Ministry of Defence
Based on the latest report on ‘Monitoring Forest Loss and Coverage Change in the Arc of Deforestation in the Colombian Amazon, (April 2021-March 2022)’ by the Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (Fcds), itThe departments of Caquetá and Meta continue to lead the loss of forest with 34% and 29% respectively, According to the total reported in the Amazon biome and together with Guaviare, they showed growth compared to 2020.
According to the entity, among the municipalities with highest number of deforestation are found in La Macarena, which concentrated 16% of this problem in the area with 18,578 hectares of lost forest, especially within the PNN Tinigua, followed by the municipality of Cartagena del Chairá, with 15% of the deforestation corresponding to 16,534 hectares, which are mainly located in the Forest Reserve area.
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According to the document, “the municipality of La Macarena stands out as it has the highest deforestation value with a lower proportion of standing forest, for which a 3.8% loss of forest is calculated in the current period. remnant while the other municipalities do not exceed 2% of their forest loss”.
It should be noted that despite the fact that in Colombia there are areas attached to the National System of Protected Areas, according to the report, 14% of all deforestation for the period was recorded on these lands.
With data from 2022, in the Tinigua National Natural Park (PNN), deforestation reached 8,216 hectares; this data has once again concentrated on the sector for the fifth consecutive year. Following this is the PNN Sierra de la Macarena with losses of 4,062 ha, as well as the PNN Serranía de Chiribiquete, which presented figures for this year for 1,862 ha.
Other parks that present deforestation were the PNN La Paya with 713 ha, PNN Cordillera de los Picachos with 266 ha and the Nukak National Natural Reserve with 236 ha.
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Change in strategies
The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development assured within the framework of the National Council for the Fight Against Deforestation (Conaldef) that the strategy against this situation changed its focuswhere the new logic of the government will be oriented towards rights, without neglecting the control and constitutional work that the State must exercise.
“The measures from now on will not focus on peasants, who are the last link in the deforestation chain, but on those who are part of the criminal and organized structure“, said.
DIANA K. RODRIGUEZ T.
Journalist Portfolio
