Colombia's fight against deforestation is hampered by deeply-rooted challenges

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🗞️ Driving the news: Colombia, hosting COP16 on biodiversity, is grappling with a deforestation crisis, having lost nearly six million hectares of forest since 1990
• Efforts to combat deforestation are complicated by factors such as drug production, historical land use practices, and the presence of armed groups

🔭 The context: The country still has 52% of its land covered by forests, primarily in the Amazon
• Historically, government policies encouraged deforestation for farming, and financial incentives were once tied to land clearing
• Unlike Brazil, deforestation in Colombia is driven by diverse actors, including small farmers, drug traffickers, and land speculators

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Protecting Colombia's forests is crucial for biodiversity and climate goals, as these forests play a vital role in carbon storage and ecosystem health
• The ongoing deforestation undermines global efforts to combat climate change

⏭️ What's next: Colombia's government is working to find sustainable solutions, such as promoting ecological farming practices and addressing the root causes of illegal land clearing
• Increased international collaboration may be needed to strengthen these efforts

💬 One quote: "The big problem here in Colombia is that the State is struggling to control its territory," — Marie-Gabrielle Piketty, economist at the French Agricultural Research Centre for International Development

📈 One stat: Colombia had 64.8 million hectares of forest in 1990; nearly six million hectares have been lost since

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