BOGOTA, Colombia — Colombia noticed a 33% drop in deforestation within the first quarter of 2025 in comparison with the identical interval last year, the atmosphere ministry stated Thursday, citing stronger community coordination and a crackdown on environmental crime.
Talking at a press convention, Setting Minister Lena Estrada Añokazi stated deforestation fell from 40,219 hectares in early 2024 to 27,000 hectares this 12 months. The federal government recognized 18 active deforestation hot spots, together with 13 within the Amazon and others in areas like Catatumbo, Arauca and the Pacific north.
“Within the Amazon’s nationwide parks, deforestation dropped by 54% … which is an excellent end result,” Estrada stated, highlighting beneficial properties in Amazonian parks Tinigua, Chiribiquete and La Macarena.
The Amazon stays Colombia’s most affected area, accounting for 69% of the nation’s deforestation. The departments — Colombia’s principal administrative divisions — of Meta, Caquetá and Guaviare noticed the most important declines, whereas Putumayo had a slight improve.
Estrada attributed the decline to the federal government’s built-in plan to curb deforestation, which incorporates neighborhood agreements, institutional strengthening, and joint operations with the Protection Ministry and Lawyer Normal’s Workplace.
A current report by Colombia’s inspector common famous that whereas deforestation dropped general, pressure on protected areas stays intense, with unlawful coca cultivation and unregulated mining advancing into nationwide parks. The unbiased watchdog stated that between October 2024 and March 2025, almost 88,900 hectares of forest have been misplaced nationwide, a lot of it in areas designated for environmental conservation.
The minister stated the efforts have led to key arrests, together with of people tied to the environmental sector.
Wanting forward, Estrada outlined a territorial motion plan to additional have interaction native and Indigenous authorities. A sequence of regional conferences is about to start in June, beginning in Villavicencio with Amazon and Orinoquia leaders.
Deforestation in Colombia is usually pushed by land grabbing, unlawful street constructing, cattle ranching, illicit mining and coca cultivation, the uncooked ingredient to supply cocaine.
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