Colombia's Forests Are Breathing Easier — Deforestation Falls 25% in a Year
Colombia reports 25% less deforestation year-on-year as its Conservar Paga programme pays thousands of families to protect forests.
Colombia has reported a 25% year-on-year decline in deforestation — the latest in a sustained trend transforming one of the world's most biodiverse nations.
Government data shows 36,280 hectares of forest were lost in the first nine months of 2025, down from 48,500 hectares in the same period of 2024. The Amazon region, historically the epicentre of Colombian forest loss, showed particular improvement.
Officials credited the Conservar Paga ("Conservation Pays") programme, which provides some 5,000 families with up to $240 per month to maintain or restore forests on their properties.
"The sustained reduction of deforestation in the Amazon is the result of collaboration between the national government and communities," the government said, citing ecological restoration, voluntary conservation agreements, and strengthened sustainable production chains.
Key Facts
- 36,280 hectares lost (Jan–Sep 2025) vs 48,500 hectares (2024) — 25% reduction
- Conservar Paga: ~5,000 families paid up to $240/month for forest protection
- Amazon region showed particular improvement
- Research consistently shows Indigenous-led conservation produces the strongest results
Why This Matters
Colombia is the second most biodiverse country on Earth, containing parts of the Amazon, the Andes, and the Chocó rainforest. The Conservar Paga model demonstrates that paying communities to protect forests can work at national scale — aligning economic incentives with conservation rather than pitting them against each other.
What We Don't Know Yet
Even with a 25% reduction, 36,280 hectares is still a vast area of forest loss — progress is relative, not absolute. Satellite monitoring methodologies can vary and may under-count degradation short of full clearing. Political cycles threaten continuity, and coca-related deforestation pressures remain linked to complex narcotics dynamics.
Sources: Positive News · Euronews Green
Published 17 February 2026 · Category: Environment & Climate
