2024 damning for Colombia's Amazon rainforest, 40% more deforestation compared to last year

Colombia's Amazon rainforest has long been a cause of deforestation concerns. On Monday (Apr 8), the nation's Environment Minister Susana Muhamad revealed that there exists a perplexing paradox in the biodiverse rainforest. While deforestation in the region has gone down by 25 to 35 per cent in 2023, data shows early signs of a massive, worrying uptick in forest loss.

A treasure trove of biodiversity

As per Reuters, Colombia's Amazon basin boasts amazing biodiversity, with thousands of plant and animal species. Yet, like many parts of the region, Colombia too hasalarming levels of deforestation.

In 2022, Colombia recorded a 29 per cent reduction in deforestation. As per Reuters, recent data shows that this means that in spite of the save, around 1,235 square kilometres (477 square miles) of forest was lost, most of it in the Amazon region.

Worryingly, the narrative has taken an even darker turn in 2024. As per the environment ministry, there is a jarring 40 per cent surge in the destruction of the forest recorded in the first quarter compared to the same period last year.

This unfortunate reversal is attributed to the El Niño weather phenomenon, which has led to scorching temperatures and dry conditions, exacerbating droughts and wildfires across the country.

Dangers to environmentalists

As per Reuters, adding to the mounting challenges are the persistent conflicts with illegal armed groups, which not only threaten the lives of environmentalists but also impede the crucial conservation work of officials from the National Environmental System.

Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said, "The psychological pressure that armed groups are exerting against communities is terrible."

Each year, dozens of Colombia's environmentalists are killed for their efforts, according to advocacy group Global Witness.

Muhamad expressed concern over the toll these armed conflicts exact on communities, lamenting that "nature is being put in the middle of the conflict."

(With inputs from agencies)