In 2024, the rate of deforestation in Colombia will be among the lowest in the last two decades, according to the Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad.
This achievement is a significant step forward for a country that has faced serious problems of forest loss for years due to socioeconomic factors and armed conflicts.
Colombia has suffered the impact of rural areas being occupied by the FARC guerrilla and the National Liberation Army (ELN), a conflict that still persists. In addition, dissidents from these groups and drug traffickers have contributed to the problem by developing illegal infrastructure such as roads, camps, livestock activities, and possibly linked to the illegal trade of precious woods.
## Significant progress in the deforestation rate in Colombia
In 2023, deforestation in the country experienced a decrease of more than 30%, dropping to 305 square miles of lost forest. Although initial data from 2024 indicated a slight rebound, Minister Susana Muhamad reported that this year will end with the third lowest deforestation rate of the 21st century, reflecting the State’s ability to maintain significant progress.
It is worth noting that deforestation is not only measured by directly felled trees but also includes climatic factors and natural disasters such as landslides and fires. At the beginning of 2024, an increase in forest loss was forecasted due to the phenomenon of El Niño, which caused droughts and fires in different regions of the country.
In the first quarter of 2024, forest loss increased by 40% compared to the same period of the previous year. However, this trend seems to have moderated in the following months, maintaining the progress achieved.
## Costa Rica: a successful model in the fight against deforestation
Costa Rica is the only country in Latin America that not only managed to halt deforestation but also significantly reverse it. Through various strategies, the nation has notably increased the percentage of forest coverage in its territory.
In the 1980s, the forested area in Costa Rica had drastically decreased to only 21% of the national territory. Today, this figure has risen to around 60%, according to data provided by Global Forest Watch. This progress demonstrates that the success of Costa Ricans has not been a coincidence but the result of an effective model that has combined economic growth and environmental sustainability.
Costa Rica’s model to combat and reverse forest loss is based on three fundamental pillars:
1. **Strict regulations**: Clear and demanding laws that protect natural ecosystems.
2. **Economic incentives**: Payment for environmental services that encourage reforestation and conservation.
3. **International collaboration**: Agreements with organizations such as the World Bank, the Green Climate Fund, and the LEAF coalition, which provide funding in exchange for carbon capture in Costa Rican forests.
*Cover photo: Edwin Caicedo / El Tiempo*
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