Deforestation in Colombia rose by 35 percent in 2024 from a 23-year low the previous year, driven by an increase in the Amazon region, Environment Minister Susana Muhamad said on Thursday. The announcement comes days before the country chairs the UN's nature talks in Rome next week.

Deforestation reached 1,070 square kilometers (413 square miles) last year after falling to just over 792 square kilometers in 2023 from around 1,235 square kilometers in 2022.

"In 2024, we witnessed an increase in medium-sized areas of deforestation that involve operations paid for by big capital," Mohamed told reporters in Bogota, pointing to the involvement of organized crime more than rural communities. (Sebastian Rodriguez, more on climatechangenews.com)