Deforestation in Colombia increased by 8% in 2020, Environment Minister Carlos Eduardo Correa said on Wednesday, despite ambitious government promises to reduce forest destruction and plant tens of millions of trees.
The country lost 171,685 hectares (424,000 acres) of forest last year, an area twice the size of New York City, compared to a loss of 158,894 hectares in 2019.
Cattle ranching, the expansion of agricultural areas, cultivation of illegal crops like coca, unauthorized roads and criminal activities like illegal mining and logging were the top causes.
Correa said the country hopes to reach zero deforestation by 2030.
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