New action plan to curb deforestation in Colombia

The plan to contain forest deforestation in Colombia is one of the main proposals of the government of President Gustavo Petro for the next four years.

What are the deforestation figures in Colombia?

According to figures from the Forest and Carbon Monitoring System of the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam), in the last 20 years 3.12 million hectares of forest have been deforested in Colombia, which occurs with greater intensity in the Amazon.

Compared to the first half of 2021, deforestation in 2022 increased in the Amazon by 11% with 52,460 hectares and it is estimated that the trend of increase will continue in the following years in case of not taking action.

What are the main strategies proposed by the containment plan?

In order to reduce deforestation, the containment plan contemplates the creation of deforestation nuclei that become a nucleus of forest development, which will be created through social and conservation agreements with the surrounding communities.

Nuclei that will be protected and used by the communities themselves, with the support of the State, to create tourism projects, agroforestry systems, among others, which will prevent and discourage deforestation and illegal profit from this activity.

Additionally, the Government proposes to strengthen the presence of the public force to defend the country’s forests, under the understanding that deforestation and environmental protection are matters of national and human security.

Support that will allow obtaining territorial control, which will strengthen territorial institutions, so that there is a presence of the State in all corners of Colombia and the necessary actions can be taken to stop deforestation.

Finally, President Gustavo Petro has raised the possibility of exchanging or reducing Colombia’s foreign debt in exchange for the protection of the Amazon.

Given the importance of the conservation and protection of the Amazon, both for Colombia and for the world, the Government is analyzing the options to start negotiations with the International Monetary Fund to create financial mechanisms that contain climate actions.

This is a mechanism that will facilitate the participation of the private sector in the transformation of the global economy that is not dependent on fossil fuels and that is clean, sustainable and renewable.

Given the importance of protecting the Amazon and the latent threat of climate change, the next four years will be key to creating or strengthening mechanisms, policies and actions to be effective and efficient to curb deforestation.

However, will the containment plan be sufficient to curb the excessive increase in deforestation that Colombia has experienced in the last 20 years?

By LLOREDA CAMACHO & CO, Colombia, a Transatlantic Law International Affiliated Firm.  

For further information or for any assistance please contact colombia@transatlanticlaw.com 

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