Deforestation in Colombia

Deforestation In Colombia

Colombia loses 2,000 km2 of forest annually to deforestation, according to the United Nations in 2003, although some suggest that this figure is as high as 3,000 km² due to illegal logging in the region. Deforestation results mainly from logging for timber, small-scale agricultural ranching, mining, development of energy resources such as hydro-electricity, infrastructure, cocaine production, and farming. Around one-third of the country's original forest has been removed as a result of deforestation.

Deforestation in Colombia is mainly targeted at primary rainforest which covers more than 80% of the country. This has a profound ecological impact in that the country is extremely rich in biodiversity with 10% of the world's species, making it the second most biologically diverse country on Earth.