About 5 million hectares of forests have been lost in Colombia in the last 30 years

The serious situation presented by the Office of the Comptroller General of the Republic warns that the cycles of biotic connectivity of all ecosystems are being broken and, consequently, irreparable damage is being generated to the environment.

The figures show that about 500 hectares are lost daily, which worries the organism, as it fears that this loss will also affect the impact caused by climate change more severely.

“The issue of climate change is hitting us and about 60 percent of the CO2 emissions emitted in the country are the result of these processes of deforestation, particularly because of the burning that is being made,” says Jurado.

The National Development Plan “Pact for Colombia, Pact for Equity”, in 2022 proposes a reduction in deforestation by 30% compared to the current situation. As part of its follow-up activities, the Comptroller's Office collects and analyzes information on the situation of deforestation in Colombia. To this end, the agency relies on IDEAM's official deforestation report from 2018 to 2020, also evaluating the alerts issued by IDEAM during this period of time.

The magnifying glass is mainly used in two departments of Colombia, Amazonas and Chocó. In the first, 65% of total deforestation in the country is found. In previous years, the Comptroller's Office has evaluated compliance with the obligations related to the control of deforestation in that area by the Ministry of Environment, the Autonomous Corporations that have jurisdiction in the region and National Natural Parks of Colombia.

In an audit carried out in 2020, it was warned by a low allocation of resources by the State. In addition, weaknesses were evident in the management and control of forest use permits granted by environmental authorities.

On the part of the department of Chocó, the Comptroller's Office alerted weaknesses in the control, surveillance and monitoring of the mobilization of timber forest resources exploited in the department.

In addition, deficiencies were found in the process of issuing forest use permits and weaknesses are noted in the development of environmental sanctioning processes, related to deforestation in Chocó.

According to a report published by Frontiers Magazine, deforestation in Colombia increased after the peace agreement signed in 2016. Coca crops and the extent of livestock are major factors in increasing deforestation.

This accelerated deforestation in Colombia brings other risks besides climate change, for example, the National Unit for Disaster Risk Management (UNGRD), reported that 590 municipalities have fire alerts.

Ernesto Guhl Nannetti, an environmentalist and member of the Colombian Academy of Exact Physical and Natural Sciences, told the Republic that: “Deforestation is linked to violence, drug trafficking and engaging in unsustainable activities. Colombia was one of the countries with large forest cover and has been rapidly losing it. We must reach those regions where this phenomenon occurs in order to give them a different way out, other than deforestation and illicit cultivation”.

This crisis is in addition to 11 that are on the environmental agenda to address in 2022:

1. Landslides due to high rainfall.

2. Inadequate use of soil with transient crops in areas of high slope.

3. Pollution peaks in cities due to particulate matter pollution.

4. Climate action and the role of citizens.

5. Plastics and waste management.

6. Deforestation in the Amazon region due to extensive livestock farming.

7. Current status of hydrocarbon exploration licenses in high mountain and paramos areas.

8. Fishing resource in Colombia.

9. Business and climate change.

10. Responsible use and consumption.

11. Environmental education.

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