Panoramic view of a valley in Boyacá, Colombia.Thierry Falise (LightRocket via Getty Images)
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In the environmental sector, we can breathe better air again. Deforestation, one of the problems that has been critical since 2016 when it peaked after the signing of the peace deal between the government and former FARC guerrillas, now brings good news: it’s down by 29 in 2022 compared to before % decreased registered in 2021. In other words, according to the latest data from the Ministry of Environment, only 123,517 hectares (ha) of forest were cleared nationally in one year, an advance if you take into account that in 2019 they felled 158,894 ha; in 2020 171,685 ha and in 2021 174,103 ha.
The first quarter of 2022 saw the most deforestation in Colombia, accounting for 63% of deforestation, followed by 9% in the second quarter, 11% in the third quarter and a 17% increase in the fourth half of the year. “The most critical periods in the Amazon, which has a high representativeness in a national comparison, are from October to December and from January to March, since it is the driest season,” explained Environment Minister Susana Muhamed, warning that the greatest effort against deforestation actually took place in the last quarter when deforestation was curbed.
Another reason for the decrease in deforestation is related to the situation in national parks, where deforestation has decreased by 12%. Parks that have seen improvements include Paramillo, Chibiriquete, Tinigua, Catatumbo, Macarena and La Playa.
Where has deforestation gone up and down?
Muhamad also explained that 52% of the deforestation has taken place in the main deforestation centers, concentrated in the Andean region and the Amazon arc. Specifically, these are critical points in “Mapiripán, Guaviare, the Sabanas del Yarí, Putumayo and in the south of Meta”. And although the nationwide trend was downward, deforestation increased by 5% in departments like Antioquia and by 23% in Chocó compared to 2021.
There, as has been noted several times, the major pressures wiping out forests come from illegal cultivation, illegal logging, mining, extensive ranching and, in some cases, the opening of roads that access the forests.
On the other hand, there were the departments where deforestation decreased the most, including Norte de Santander with 40%; Vichada (26%); meta (34%) to guaviars (37%); Caquetá (50%) and Putumayo (15%). “In Norte de Santander it is a phenomenon that we have to study because we still do not know exactly what this improvement is due to,” said the minister.
Adding up all the figures for the Amazon, the decrease was also 36% in the departments of Amazonas, Guaviare, Guainía and Vaupés; and part of the departments of Putumayo, Caquetá, Nariño, Cauca, Meta and Vichada.
The trend of the first quarter of 2023 is going well
Although these are preliminary data, that is, statistical samples that are not yet fully recorded, there is every indication that deforestation has improved so far this year. “This first quarter of 2023 had a 76% drop compared to the first quarter of 2022,” Muhamad said. “That’s good news.” The challenge will come in the last half of the year, however, as on top of the trend that this is one of the times of greatest deforestation in the Amazon, Colombia is experiencing the El Niño phenomenon For example, vegetation will become more susceptible to fire. “Although we started the year with a good trend in the Amazon arc, the key will be to maintain the result until 2024,” concluded the minister.