BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) — Armed groups operating in Colombia's Amazon are tightening their grip on the region and that's stalling government efforts to tackle deforestation, according to a think tank report Thursday.
The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) dissidents, known as EMC, have the ability to slow or accelerate deforestation at will, said the report by The International Crisis Group.
Some of the former FARC members never signed and disagree with the 2016 FARC-Colombia peace deal. Others signed it but took up arms again, while others are new to the dissident ranks either as volunteers or forced fighters, said Rodrigo Botero, director of The Foundation for Conservation and Sustainable Development (FCDS).
EMC is currently Colombia’s third largest armed group, with around 3,500 members.
“This group is the most directly responsible for deforestation in the last five years," Botero said. "More than half a million hectares have been lost in their control zones.”
“Over the last year,” he said, "the EMC has given orders to the population to suspend deforestation, but this year they have increased it again."
More than 40% of Colombia is in the Amazon — an area roughly the size of Spain. The country has the world’s largest bird biodiversity. Fifteen percent of the Colombian Amazon has already been deforested, according to FCDS.
Colombia’s first leftist administration under Gustavo Petro stakes much of its legitimacy on its environmental and peace agenda, Crisis Group researcher and report coauthor Bram Ebus told The Associated Press.
“However, as Colombia’s natural environment continues to suffer from the severe impacts of conflict dynamics and economic activities that fuel violence, his political legacy is at risk,” Ebus said.
Colombia’s environment ministry said in a statement Thursday that saving the Amazon rainforest has been one of Petro’s main priorities and it has achieved a historic reduction of deforestation by 61% in the last two years.
While acknowledging “the difficulties with the dynamics of peace in the territory and the armed actors,” the ministry said it wants to build a forest development model that benefits Amazon communities, recovers the forest and stops illegal deforestation.
Previous administrations opted for punitive measures against Amazon communities complicit in deforestation, while Petro offers incentives, proposing financial aid to support forest conservation and promote sustainable livelihoods, Ebus said.
“Nevertheless, the lack of territorial control hampers the implementation of these projects, as armed groups dominate the region, often preventing communities from benefiting from state-funded initiatives,” he said.
The EMC is able to impose control over the forests through armed coercion, said Elizabeth Dickenson, Crisis Group senior analyst and report coauthor. She added that in late 2022 and March 2023 local commanders gave strict orders to communities to cease deforesting.
“Anyone who did would be subject to fines, forced community labor and even expulsion from the community," Dickenson said.
But early this year, the EMC lifted restrictions, so it could accelerate its revenue streams from deforestation, she said, adding that the group would force those deforesting to pay an extortion fee to operate.
“One of the things that was very alarming in researching this piece was the extent to which state authorities are not allowed to access areas that are under their (EMC) jurisdiction," she said. "So this includes national parks, protected areas.”
Dialogue with the EMC is an uphill battle, Ebus said, noting the group has repeatedly violated previously agreed rules during ceasefires and blocked state agencies from entering territories under its control.
“If the Petro administration truly wants to protect the Amazon, it must first regain access to these areas, as armed groups currently are calling the shots,” he said.
Follow Steven Grattan on X: @sjgrattan
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FILE - Indigenous demonstrators join a protest outside Brazilian embassy to call on Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro to act to protect the Amazon rainforest, in Bogota, Colombia, Aug. 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Ivan Valencia, File)
Philadelphia (3-2) at New York Giants (2-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. EDT, FOX
BetMGM NFL Odds: Eagles by 3.
Against the spread: Eagles 2-3, Giants 3-3.
Series record: Eagles lead 93-88-2.
Last meeting: Giants beat Eagles 27-10 on Jan. 7, 2024, at East Rutherford, N.J.
Last week: Eagles beats Browns 20-16; Giants lost to Bengals 17-7.
Eagles offense: overall (10), rush (6), pass (14), scoring (18).
Eagles defense: overall (20), rush (16), pass (21), scoring (14).
Giants offense: overall (20), rush (24), pass (18), scoring (29).
Giants defense: overall (10), rush (15), pass (12), scoring (T9).
Turnover differential: Eagles minus-6, Giants minus-2.
Barkley faces the team that drafted him second overall in the 2018. In 74 games with New York, Barkley rushed for 5,211 yards — the fourth most in Giants history — and had 47 touchdowns (35 rushing, 12 receiving). He was the AP NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. He signed with the Eagles as a free agent this year.
Rookie WR Malik Nabers cleared the concussion protocol and it's possible he could be returning to the lineup after missing two games. The No. 6 overall draft pick was leading the league with 35 receptions after four weeks. His three touchdowns still lead the team.
Both defensive lines against the left tackle. The Eagles' Jordan Mailata is out for a few weeks with a hamstring injury. The Giants are without Andrew Thomas for the rest of the season following foot surgery Wednesday. Backup tackle Fred Johnson or Mekhi Becton could replace Mailata. If Becton moved from right guard, he would have to be replaced. The Giants can have Josh Ezeudu start at left tackle, or move right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor to the left side and then start either Evan Neal or Ezeudu at right tackle.
Eagles: Mailata (hamstring) and TE Dallas Goedert (hamstring) left the game against the Browns and are out. CB Darius Slay (knee), LB Oren Burks (groin), OLB Jalyx Hunt (ankle) and DT Milton Williams (ankle) are on the injury report. ... Giants: Thomas is done for the season. DT Dexter Lawrence (hip), OLB Brian Burns (groin), P Jamie Gillan (hamstring), RB Devin Singletary (groin), WR Wan'Dale Robinson (ankle), WR Darius Slayton (groin) are on the injury report.
The Eagles have won 5 of 6 and 13 of 16. They are 9-5 at MetLife Stadium and had won five straight before dropping a game in the final week of last season.
Philadelphia: QB Jalen Hurts threw two touchdowns last week and had a season-high 126.1 rating. His 43 TDs rushing are tied with Steve Young for third most by a quarterback in NFL history. He hasn't thrown an interception in 5 of 6 NFC East road games. ... Barkley has more than 115 yards from scrimmage in four games this season. ... WR A.J. Brown had six catches for 116 yards and a TD last week. WR Devonta Smith also caught a TD. He has caught a TD in three of past four against Giants. ... LB Josh Sweat has a sack in two straight. ... LB Nakobe Dean had a season-high 12 tackles against the Browns. ... DT Jalen Carter has his first sack last weekend. ... The Giants are 0-3 at home. ... QB Daniel Jones has not thrown an interception in his past three games against the Eagles. ... Rookie RB Tyrone Taylor ran for his first TD last week. ... WR Wan'Dale Robinson has had at least five catches in his past four games. ... WR Darius Slayton caught a TD in both games against the Eagles in 2023. ... DT Dexter Lawrence is tied for second in the NFL with seven sacks. ... OLB Azeez Ojulari had two sacks last week. ...Rookie S Tyler Nubin leads the Giants with 39 tackles. ... The defense has not allowed more than 21 points in the past five games, and has not intercepted a pass in that span.
Jalen Hurts. In the first game between the teams last season — the Eagles quarterback ran eight times for 34 yards and a touchdown and completed 24 of 38 passes for 301 yards and a touchdown on Christmas Day in a 33-25 win. He also had an interception returned for a TD by Adoree Jackson.
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Philadelphia Eagles safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson (8) stops Cleveland Browns tight end David Njoku (85) during the second half of an NFL football game Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
New York Giants quarterback Daniel Jones (8) throws a pass during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
New York Giants running back Tyrone Tracy Jr. (29) celebrates scoring a touchdown during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J.(AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts (1) is lifted by Eagles offensive tackle Lane Johnson (65) after Hurts threw a touchdown pass to Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola)
New York Giants linebacker Brian Burns celebrates a tackle during the first half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in East Rutherford, N.J. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
Running back Saquon Barkley faces the Giants for the first time since signing with the Eagles
Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley (26) carries the ball during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
Running back Saquon Barkley faces the Giants for the first time since signing with the Eagles
