environment
March 1, 2026
The expansion of illegal roads, coca, and cattle ranching deepens the crisis in the Colombian Amazon
Portafolio Journalist 02/28/2026 10:37 Updated: 02/28/2026 10:53
TL;DR
- The Colombian Amazon is facing severe environmental devastation from illegal roads, mining, cattle ranching, and coca cultivation.
- Deforestation is closely linked to the expansion of road networks; 90% of deforested areas in the last year were near roads.
- Between April 2024 and March 2025, about 56,719 hectares were deforested in the Colombian Amazon.
- Cattle ranching accounts for 83% of deforested land in the northwest Amazonian arc, with coca cultivation and illegal roads making up the rest.
- The region's cattle herd has grown significantly, and coca cultivation has also increased substantially.
- Experts emphasize that the environmental crisis is intertwined with social issues, poverty, and insecurity due to the presence of illegal armed groups.
- There is a call for presidential candidates to include comprehensive solutions for the Amazon in their election platforms.