environment
April 6, 2026
Government declares reserve in Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta: two-year protection
The Ministry of Environment issued a resolution declaring a temporary reserve of renewable natural resources in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, one of the most important ecological areas in the country.
TL;DR
- A temporary reserve has been declared in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, covering 942,005 hectares.
- The reserve aims to protect strategic ecosystems and ancestral communities for an initial period of two years.
- New mining concessions and hydrocarbon contracts are prohibited within the protected area.
- Existing mining projects can continue until their conclusion but will not be extended.
- The decision prioritizes environmental protection and cultural preservation over new extractive activities.