Contributing to the fight against deforestation
Climate change and deforestation were discussed in meetings between people and politicians in the local election campaign in one of Colombia's poorest areas – Caquetá.
It was no coincidence that the meetings were held here. Caquetá, in the southern part of the country, is the hardest hit by deforestation and the armed conflict that has been going on for decades. They were organized by the Interreligious Initiative for Tropical Forests (IRI), the Pan-Amazonian Network REPAM Colombia, Caritas Colombia and Caritas Norway, with support from Norad and the Norwegian Embassy.
Small progress
According to the country's Ministry of the Environment, 123,517 hectares of forest were cut in Colombia in 2022. This is a 29 percent reduction from the previous year. This is progress, but still a long way to go to reach the national goal of reducing deforestation to 100,000 hectares annually by 2025. At the same time, the government is trying to enter into peace negotiations with several armed groups that are increasingly gaining control in these areas.
– The aim of the meetings was to discuss, analyze and listen to the proposals of the candidates running for election, as well as receive input from the local population of the Amazon. More than a hundred people, including indigenous people and small-scale farmers, participated and shared their concerns.
Sigrid Nagoda, local representative for Caritas Norway
Sustainable solutions
The focus was on restoring and protecting the Amazon ecosystem, supporting climate adaptation and development processes, and defending the rights of the local people who live there. One of them is Yolanda Pinia, who actively participates in our projects in the region and had this to say about the meetings:
– It is good that such arenas exist, so that local politicians both gain a better understanding of the deforestation problem and can help find sustainable solutions.
Yolanda Pinia
Politicians must commit
Each meeting ends with politicians signing a public document in which they commit to dedicating technical, human and financial resources to the conservation, restoration and protection of the Amazon, if elected, and to developing strategies and programs that promote sustainable development and reduce deforestation.
– Together with our partners in Colombia, we support the local people's struggle and commitment to reduced deforestation, while working for sustainable development. We do this in close dialogue with the church's network, both at the local and national level – to ensure that development work goes hand in hand with the peace process.
Sigrid Nagoda