Colombia’s Amazon at Risk as Militia Leader Ends Deforestation Ban

“Only one man controls these regions: Ivan Mordisco,” says Miguel Tabares, a resident displaced from Guaviare state. Mordisco, whose real name is Néstor Gregorio Vera Fernández, leads the Central General Staff (EMC), one of the country’s largest armed groups. Initially, he imposed a strict ban on deforestation, enforced with severe consequences. This move contributed notably to the nation’s reduced forest loss, earning unexpected praise from environmental observers.

However, the collapse of peace talks between the government and the EMC—triggered by the militia’s violent acts, including bombing a police station and assassinating an Indigenous leader—led Mordisco to lift the deforestation ban. Consequently, the first quarter of this year saw a 40% increase in deforestation compared to the same period in 2023.

As Colombia hosts the Cop16 biodiversity summit in Cali, tensions escalate. Mordisco has threatened to disrupt the event, prompting heightened security measures and concern from President Petro. “We are all nervous that nothing bad happens,” the president remarked, acknowledging the precarious situation.

Environmental experts warn that the EMC’s actions could undo the country’s progress. “They are a huge obstacle to the government’s environmental plans,” notes Francisco Daza of the peacebuilding think tank Pares. Reports indicate that the EMC is pressuring farmers to clear more forest for agriculture and obstructing rangers from accessing national parks.

Civilians find themselves caught in the middle, and fractures within the militia further complicate resolution efforts. The government now faces a critical choice: negotiate with Mordisco to protect the rainforest or confront the EMC directly. As one insider puts it, “The EMC doesn’t care about deforestation; they care about money.”

With the Amazon’s fate hanging in the balance, Colombia’s environmental achievements stand at a crossroads. The actions taken in the coming months will determine not only the future of the rainforest but also the global fight against biodiversity loss.

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