Amazon Watch’s Post

A recent article by Manuela Andreoni in the The New York Times sheds light on the alarming issue of 'narco-deforestation' in #Colombia, where illegal drug trafficking and environmental destruction intertwine with devastating effects. Despite a 49% reduction in #deforestation in 2023, early 2024 has seen a significant reversal, with tree loss increasing by 40%. This concerning trend is largely attributed to the dominance of armed groups over these ecologically crucial areas. This detailed reporting highlights the broader implications of such environmental crises—where criminal activities not only pose a security threat but also a severe risk to #biodiversity and climate change efforts. In response to these challenges, the German government is committed to enhancing the understanding of and addressing the environmental impacts of #DrugEconomies and #DrugPolicies. At the #CND67, the side event titled "Drugs and the Environment", organized by #Germany with support from #Australia, #Brazil, #France, #Peru, #Thailand, and the UNODC Research and Trend Analysis Branch, underlined the impacts of #DrugEconomies and the linkages with other illegal markets that affect the environment. At the Global Partnership on Drug Policies and Development (GPDPD), we recognize the importance of these insights and promote comprehensive approaches to tackle these intertwined global issues. 👉 https://lnkd.in/egfN7nrR Der Sucht- und Drogenbeauftragte der Bundesregierung; MILDECA - mission interministérielle de lutte contre les drogues et les conduites addictives ; DEVIDA Perú; Laura d'Arrigo; Mafalda P.; Nick Magliocca

"Colombia made major progress in 2023, slashing deforestation rates by 49 percent in a single year. But this week, we learned the trend reversed significantly in the first quarter of this year. Preliminary figures show tree loss was up 40 percent since the start of the year, Colombia’s Minister of Environment, Susana Muhamad, told reporters on Monday. Why have things changed so quickly? Mostly because a single armed group controls much of Colombia’s rainforests." #timber #deforestation #toc #illicittrade #environmentalcrime https://lnkd.in/dy2SSeei

When my colleagues Elizabeth Dickinson and Bram Ebus visited communities in the Colombian Amazon region to examine what was triggering deforestation, the answer was clear: an armed group, the EMC, decides when forest gets destroyed and when it doesn’t. Satellite data analysed by International Crisis Group corroborated those testimonies. In our most recent briefing, we examine how this guerrilla has used environmental protection to engrace themselves with the Petro government and how the stumbles in the negotiations with them has resulted in higher deforestation rates. This text speaks not only about Colombian interests: if the world is invested in saving the jungle, it must help Bogotá to continue negotiations with the EMC (with conditions), have a better security strategy and improved coordination among the state bodies. A hugely relevant analysis as Cali hosts the new COP16 Colombia https://lnkd.in/euh24bWA

Politics and war are taking a heavy toll on the Amazon in Colombia, with deforestation rates once again on the rise after years of positive news. Armed groups controlling the rainforest area are using deforestation as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the government. This sharp increase in deforestation highlights the importance of democracy and stable governments in preserving our vital natural resources. Autocrats, dictators, and organized crime are wreaking havoc on our natural resources, ignoring the fundamentals of our existence. Check out this article on deforestation in Colombia to learn more: https://lnkd.in/d_gvuqjY

Indigenous people protect 80% of the world’s biodiversity yet have some of the fewest legal protections of any population. This begs the question - who protects them? The Earth Defenders Toolkit offers critical resources and tools for communities on the frontline of the climate justice struggle - and their allies.  One of these tools is Mapeo, co-designed and developed with Indigenous communities who face threats to their land such as oil contamination. Mapeo allows them to document these activities in order to take community action against them, to report them to authorities, file lawsuits, launch media campaigns, or create maps for land claims. In a time where it’s easy to feel immobilized by devastating news coverage, doing our part and placing practical, effective tools in the right hands can cause a ripple effect of positive change.    Find out how you can contribute to the Earth Defenders toolkit here: https://lnkd.in/dXri2vbA #EarthDefenders #EarthProtectors #IndigenousCommunities #LandProtectors #ClimateJustice #Biodiversity #TechnologyForGood 🌍 I’m Sara Vaughan, and I’ve spent my career driving purpose-led innovation with some of the world’s most influential companies and brands. Let’s work together to turn sustainability and purpose into your competitive advantage.

📢 #HumanRights Day is observed every year on 10 December – the day the United Nations General Assembly adopted, in 1948, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. 🌳 #Deforestation goes hand in hand with human rights abuses against #Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The agricultural expansion that drives over 90% of the destruction also impacts the 1.6 billion people who rely on tropical forests for their lives and livelihoods. 🔍 Our latest data shows only 1% of the companies most exposed to deforestation, have a policy that covers all of the human rights aspects that their commodities are exposed to. ➡️ Read the report: https://lnkd.in/e4MHmica or listen to our podcast - The human rights blindspot on deforestation action - here🎧: https://lnkd.in/ek2nCG6D

🇨🇴 The Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, announced last week that deforestation levels dropped to historic lows not seen in 23 years. Last year alone, deforestation fell by 36% compared to the year before. The influence of #organized #crime on this reduction could be crucial. In this case, the Central General Staff of the ex-#FARC mafia established restrictions on logging in areas under their influence in Colombia's #Amazon region

🌍 Urgent: The Alarming Rise of Environmental Crime in Bolivia's Amazon! 🌍 The Amazon rainforest in Bolivia is under severe threat, facing unprecedented deforestation and environmental destruction. This investigation by InSight Crime highlights the critical issues driving this crisis. 🚨🌳 Key Takeaways: 🔸 Rampant Deforestation: Bolivia saw a historic loss of nearly 500,000 hectares of primary forest in 2023. 🏞️🔥 🔸 Illegal Activities: Activities like gold mining, drug trafficking, and poaching are devastating the region's biodiversity. ⛏️💊🦜 🔸 Systemic Issues: The construction of infrastructure, like airports and drug labs in protected areas, is exacerbating the situation. 🏗️🌲 This calls for immediate global attention and action to protect one of the world's most vital ecosystems. 🌿💚 Read the full investigation here: https://buff.ly/4blo4pI #EnvironmentalCrime #AmazonRainforest #Deforestation #Biodiversity #Conservation #Bolivia

𝗛𝗼𝘄 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘄𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 #𝗔𝗺𝗮𝘇𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘁𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝘁𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗼𝗳 𝗰𝗿𝗶𝗺𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗲𝗻𝘃𝗶𝗿𝗼𝗻𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗱𝗲𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻? Last week, at #OC24, we explored “Illicit drugs and convergent crime in the Amazon Basin – Sustainable responses to crime-led environmental degradation.” Our heartfelt thanks to everyone who joined us and to our esteemed panelists for their invaluable contributions: 🔹 Angela Me (UNODC) emphasized the need to address environmental crimes and drug trafficking from an #ecosystem perspective. “It’s crucial to monitor both drug and environmental crime markets together. Only then can we see the true impact and connections of trafficking routes leaving the Amazon.” 🔹 Barbara Souto (CDESC/SENAD) shared new insights on drug trafficking’s rise in #Brazil, often via clandestine landing strips. “Indigenous territories are increasingly surrounded by illegal activities, escalating threats to communities, cultural heritage, and local governments.” 🔹 Mauricio Velasquez (Facultad de Economía - Uniandes) highlighted a 32% surge in cattle ranching, impacting deforestation and policy enforcement. “Interactions among coca, gold mining, and cattle economies challenge peace efforts and defy regulation, underscoring policy enforcement gaps.” 🔹 Juan Carlos Garzón Vergara (Programa COPOLAD III) remarked on the convergence of drug and environmental crimes, stressing the impact on activists. “#DrugTrafficking fuels violence, territorial control, and risks to environmental defenders across Latin America.” This discussion underscored the urgent need for collaborative, cross-sectoral solutions. Thank you to all who participated! 🌍 #OC24 #AmazonBasin #EnvironmentalProtection #DrugTrafficking #SustainableDevelopment #OrganizedCrime #GPDPD #AlternativeDevelopment

Another Indigenous leader has been murdered in the Peruvian Amazon. According to El Tiempo de la Verdad, Gerardo Keimari Enrique, a Matsiguenka leader, was found dead on October 7 in the Madre de Dios River near his community’s territory, amid escalating violence against Indigenous defenders. His death came just months after AIDESEP, an organization representing the Indigenous peoples of the Peruvian Amazon, declared a state of emergency in July following the murder of another leader, Mariano Asacama. Keimari had been leading efforts to expand his community’s land title, facing imminent threats from illegal mining and drug trafficking. Members of the Shipetiari community had reported gunfire and death threats to Peruvian authorities. Despite these warnings, Keimari was murdered, exposing a failure in the government’s protective measures. His death adds to a growing list of Indigenous leaders who have lost their lives defending Amazonian territories. , The Peruvian Amazon’s vast, remote landscape has become fertile ground for illegal economies, increasingly linked to deforestation. Illegal mining and drug trafficking are proliferating, fueling environmental degradation and threatening Indigenous communities. For these communities, defending their lands has become a perilous endeavor, as violent clashes with invaders continue to escalate, according to reports from Mongabay Latam, Amazon Watch, and others. The urgency of addressing these threats is underscored by the region's record of violence against environmental defenders. In 2023, Latin America accounted for 85% of documented murders of land and environmental defenders worldwide, with Indigenous leaders comprising a significant portion of those targeted, according to Global Witness. At least six Peruvian Indigenous leaders have been killed since the start of last year. Two upcoming international gatherings—the 12th session of the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC COP12) and the 16th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP16)—offer opportunities for governments and international bodies to bolster protections for environmental defenders. The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, adopted in 2022, emphasizes the need to safeguard the rights of Indigenous Peoples, who play a crucial role in conserving biodiversity. As the international community grapples with ongoing biodiversity and climate crises, ensuring the safety of those on the frontlines is a pressing concern.