Latin America commits to achieving zero deforestation by 2030 in response to the urgent climate crisis.
The region’s environmental leaders have decided to completely eradicate illegal logging of trees, with the aim of protecting the most vulnerable ecosystems of rivers and lands.
This joint plan also advocates for the protection of natural reserves and the promotion of sustainable tourism activities in rural areas, also prioritizing the reduction of harmful gases derived from urban landfills.
The commitment to zero deforestation by 2030 also includes efforts to preserve biodiversity and mitigate the environmental impact of landfills.
During a meeting in Panama, the ministries of environment of Latin America and the Caribbean agreed to achieve zero deforestation before 2030, focusing on the conservation of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. This agreement was presented at the XXV Forum of Environment Ministers, with participation from environmental authorities and international experts.
In Panama, measures were agreed upon such as strengthening national parks and protected areas, promoting community ecotourism and reducing methane emissions from waste. Additionally, there is a focus on ocean conservation, combating plastic pollution, and developing financial mechanisms for environmental projects.
The Panama plan emphasizes the urgent conservation of forest and marine biodiversity, access to environmental financing, and the modernization of the Forum to improve its efficiency.
The NGO Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) warned that forest degradation in Latin America has worsened due to urbanization, illegal logging, and other illicit activities. However, globally, the loss of tropical primary forests decreased by 36% in 2025, largely driven by efforts in Brazil, according to Global Forest Watch.
Data from the Brazilian government shows a 35.4% drop in deforestation of the Amazon in the last six months, recording the lowest level since records began.
Juan Carlos Navarro, Panama’s Minister of Environment, highlighted the need to act in coordination in the region to face the climate crisis, leveraging Latin America’s environmental value in multilateral spaces.
Panama leads the Forum of Ministers of Environment of Latin America and the Caribbean, a space for political environmental dialogue that includes 33 countries.
International delegations plan to develop financial tools to facilitate direct investments, essential to combat illegal urban expansion and timber mafias.
Although a recovery in the vegetation of the Amazon has been observed, authorities continue to work on a united front against the global environmental crisis.
