Deforestation in Colombian protected areas increased during post-conflict periods

N Clerici,D Biggs,C Lora,C Pedraza,C Gómez,D Armenteras,C Hirashiki,L Schneider,P Kareiva,R Botero,M Linares,G Forero-Medina,J P Ramírez-Delgado,J Ochoa

doi:10.1038/s41598-020-61861-y

Abstract

Protected areas (PAs) are a foundational and essential strategy for reducing biodiversity loss. However, many PAs around the world exist on paper only; thus, while logging and habitat conversion may be banned in these areas, illegal activities often continue to cause alarming habitat destruction. In such cases, the presence of armed conflict may ultimately prevent incursions to a greater extent than the absence of conflict. Although there are several reports of habitat destruction following cessation of conflict, there has never been a systematic and quantitative “before-and-after-conflict” analysis of a large sample of PAs and surrounding areas. Here we report the results of such a study in Colombia, using an open-access global forest change dataset. By analysing 39 PAs over three years before and after Colombia’s peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), we found a dramatic and highly significant increase in the deforestation rate for the majority of these areas and their buffer zones. We discuss the reasons behind such findings from the Colombian case, and debate some general conservation lessons applicable to other countries undergoing post-conflict transitions.

Highlights

Protected areas (PAs) are a foundational and essential strategy for reducing biodiversity loss
The growing warfare ecology literature reports both negative and positive effects of conflict for biodiversity and the natural environment[1,2,3]. This applies to deforestation, which can be either increased or decreased depending on the specific complex socio-ecological dynamics linked to the conflict itself[3,4,5]
Increased deforestation during conflict is reported for several regions of the world[6], including Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Liberia[7] or Myanmar and Cambodia[8]

Summary

Introduction

Protected areas (PAs) are a foundational and essential strategy for reducing biodiversity loss. Studies have found that illicit crops is a direct driver of deforestation[30,31,32], and that policies of forced eradication can result in exacerbating the phenomenon[33,34] In this sense, the conservation and proper governance of territories affected by narcotics cultivation is strongly linked to the efficiency of drug policies, which intensely focus on the supply-side reduction[29,35]. Some of these PAs occur in areas of armed conflict and areas of intense illegal activities[37] They have been found to successfully reduce deforestation[44], as it occurs in other tropical regions, protected areas are disproportionately located in areas of low vulnerability[48], i.e. away from roads, in soils unsuitable for agriculture, etc

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Results

Conclusion