Colombia lost forest the size of New York City in just six months, watchdog warns

Colombia lost nearly 88,900 hectares of forest — an area larger than New York City — in just six months, according to a new report from the country’s public watchdog.

The report by the procurator’s office, released Monday, points to illegal roadbuilding, coca cultivation, and unregulated mining as the main drivers of deforestation between October 2024 and March 2025. The damage is concentrated in ecologically vital southern regions like Caquetá, Guaviare, Putumayo, and Meta — areas that form part of the Amazon basin.

Investigators documented over 1,100 kilometers of illegal roads cutting through national parks such as Chiribiquete, Nukak, and Farallones de Cali. These roads not only clear forest but also support the transport of illicit goods and expansion of illegal activities.

“The construction of these routes would consolidate a terrestrial corridor that significantly facilitates the development of illicit economies and environmental damage,” the report warned.

While coca remains the leading cause of forest loss — especially in Meta, Putumayo, and the Naya River region — illegal gold mining is emerging as a major threat. The report highlights activity near Indigenous reserves in Buenaventura’s rural zone, where heavy machinery has been found operating inside protected areas and along new trafficking routes to the Pacific.

Caquetá saw the highest deforestation rate, with nearly 30,000 hectares cleared, followed by Guaviare and Putumayo. Much of the destruction occurred close to Indigenous lands and critical wildlife corridors.

The watchdog urged authorities to investigate the legality of the new roads and immediately shut down unauthorized ones.

Although Colombia’s government reported a 36% drop in deforestation in 2023 — the lowest since records began — the trend reversed in early 2024, with forest loss jumping 35%, driven largely by activity in the Amazon.

The environment ministry had not responded to the findings by the time of publication.

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