Colombia’s Amazon Deforestation Surge Reveals Global Environmental Neglect and Risks to U.S. Interests

Colombia’s reported surge in Amazon deforestation during 2024 is more than just an environmental tragedy for South America—it is a glaring symptom of the global failure to protect critical ecosystems that also threaten American interests at home and abroad.Why Has Deforestation Rebounded So Sharply Despite Previous Gains?After Colombia hit historic lows in forest loss only a year earlier, the abrupt reversal exposes cracks in enforcement and governance. The national meteorological agency pointed to pasture expansion for cattle, illicit crop cultivation, illegal mining, and unregulated infrastructure growth as the main culprits behind the destruction of nearly 114,000 hectares of rainforest—a staggering...