Coca cultivation and deforestation in Colombia: an example of unsustainable (local) development

The Amazon rainforest plays a pivotal role in promoting environmental sustainability on a global scale. Often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth”, it absorbs significant carbon dioxide, mitigating climate change impacts and maintaining global ecological balance. Its rich biodiversity, unique flora, and fauna contribute to the well-being of indigenous communities and the entire planet. Its preservation is crucial for a sustainable future. Unfortunately, deforestation and unsustainable practices severely threaten this invaluable natural treasure. In this paper, we explore in depth the case of Amazon deforestation in Colombia. We first discuss the availability of reliable data for measuring this phenomenon by comparing different sources. Results show that, among the three major datasets available for assessing deforestation in Colombia, IDEAM is the preferred choice for national-level analyses due to its comparable overall accuracy to GFCD but superior user’s accuracy, while ESA generally performs worse. We then analyze the drivers of deforestation, with particular emphasis on the effects of illegal activities. In particular, coca cultivation is found to increase significantly the extent of deforestation in Colombia, particularly in the Andes and the Pacific Coast, two regions encompassing key biodiversity hubs. Finally, we illustrate principal conservation policies, as well as the unintended effects of some of them. We provide evidence that glyphosate aerial aspersion of coca crops has the unforeseen consequence of increasing coca cultivation, rather than reducing it, and leads to a series of negative outcomes, such as the destruction of legal crops, increased health risks for local populations, and significant harm to vital natural ecosystems.