Over 300 wildfires – mostly started by criminal groups to clear land for illicit crops – have devastated over 86,000 hectares of forestland in Colombia.
The Colombian government has declared a national emergency after 142 municipalities, mainly in the southern department of Amazonas, have been affected by the blazes.
Following the loss of some 86,000 hectares of forest, the Colombian authorities have launched operations to deal with the criminal groups suspected of being behind the fires.
The gangs reportedly set fire to land to deforest it before making it ready for growing illicit crops.
After flying over areas surrounding the Chiribiquete National Natural Park, the largest tropical rainforest national park in the world, last weekend to assess the impacts, the Colombian ministers for the Environment and Defence reported that they would begin phase 14 of ‘Operation Artemisa’ to deal with the emergency.
The operation will involve deploying around 400 law enforcement agents to tackle the criminal groups behind the fires.
The authorities have also released wanted posters for 17 suspected deforesters, with a reward of over USD 75,000 (GBP 55,300) for their capture.
Carlos Eduardo Correa, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia, said there are three causes behind the fires: “One is the burning in agricultural areas that normally take place at this time… Secondly, there may be accidents in some regions of the country. And third, illegal activities such as deforestation, which is nowadays a crime in Colombia, with between five and 15 years in prison, not only for deforesters, but also for the financing and promotion of deforestation.”
The practice of deforestation to make room for illicit crops and livestock is considered the main cause of the hundreds of wildfires ripping through the country’s south.
Defence Minister Diego Andres Molano said the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia-People’s Army (FARC) dissidents are behind the blaze in the Chiribiquete National Natural Park.
