Colombia: Colombia’s Forests Lurch between Deforestation and the Hope for a Sustainable Future

Dec 24, 2020 | Dimitri Selibas, Mongabay
View Original

High-altitude Andean forests, low-altitude basal forests, cloud forests, dry forests, mangroves: 52% of Colombia’s landmass is covered in forest, and it is the second most biodiverse country in the world, home to 58,312 known species. The highest concentrations of biodiversity occur in the Amazon and Pacific regions, which together are home to 80% of the country’s forests. Indigenous reserves steward 46% of Colombia’s forests, and Afro-Colombian communal territories account for 7.3%. About 16% fall under the protection of the country’s 59 national parks. These three systems have the highest levels of protection and some of the best conservation outcomes. And yet, Colombia’s forests are also being chopped down at an alarming rate.