Armed groups operating in Colombia's Amazon are impeding government initiatives to curb deforestation, as highlighted in a recent report by The International Crisis Group.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents, known as EMC, hold significant sway over deforestation activities, with the capacity to either slow down or accelerate the process. This group, Colombia's third largest armed faction with approximately 3,500 members, is at the forefront of the region's environmental challenges.
Rodrigo Botero, director of The Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS), emphasized the gravity of the situation: \"This group is the most directly responsible for deforestation in the last five years. More than half a million hectares have been lost in their control zones.\"
Last year, EMC issued orders to local populations to suspend deforestation; however, this year, deforestation rates have surged once again.
Colombia's Amazon spans over 40 percent of the country, covering an area comparable to the size of Spain. Renowned for having the world's largest bird biodiversity, the region is under significant threat, with 15 percent already deforested, according to FCDS.
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Armed groups hinder Colombia in curbing deforestation, report says
cgtn.com
