COLUMBIA lost more than 1,700sq km of forest in 2020, an area the size of the capital Bogota and an 8% increase on the previous year, the environment ministry said yestyerday.

Some 64% of wildfires and deforestation affected the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical rainforest that is shared with eight other countries and territories.

“That’s where we have to make the most efforts,” said Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Carlos Correa. 

Francisco Cruz, the deputy environment minister, said the 2020 increase is due to the influence of armed groups that encourage illegal logging by farmers.

Leftist guerrillas, drug-traffickers and smugglers all operate in the Amazon.

Deforestation has soared since a 2016 peace accord between the government and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) leftist rebels.

The very next year it reached a record level of 2,170sq km.

President Ivan Duque, who came to power in 2018, has deployed the army to combat deforestation.

According to the ministry, the main causes of deforestation are illegal land grabs for cattle ranching and the construction of clandestine roads.

Illegal coca plantations, mining and logging are other main causes. – AFP, July 8, 2021.