The city of Cali in southwestern Colombia is strengthening security for the COP16 biodiversity summit with the arrival of “Gladiator” armored vehicles, over 4,000 police officers, 1,700 soldiers, and special forces to protect 13,000 attendees of the global event.
The FARC dissidents under alias “Iván Mordisco” have declared a temporary ceasefire in Cali ahead of the COP16 biodiversity summit. The ceasefire, announced on social media, will take effect from October 11 to November 6, though the group has reserved its right to self-defense.
Severe drought in the Amazon is causing critical water shortages, with river levels dropping by 80% across vast sections of the Amazon River. The Colombian port city of Leticia and neighboring indigenous communities are among the worst affected, as vital trade routes from Brazil and Peru have been disrupted.
Colombia was named the deadliest country for environmental defenders with 79 killed in 2023 according to a report by the UK conservation watchdog Global Witness.
The Colombian Navy and local fishermen heroically rescued a trapped humpback whale off the Pacific coast after a three-hour battle with a fishing net.
Colombia’s COP16 summit will feature the largest Green Zone in history, with over 1,152 academic events and 280 cultural activities aimed at promoting global biodiversity protection. The summit will run in Cali from October 21 to November 1, with participation from 145 international delegations.
olombia is intensifying security measures ahead of the UN Biodiversity Summit COP16 in Cali, following threats from FARC dissidents, with the summit’s delayed agenda to be unveiled on July 23.
Colombia achieves record low deforestation rate in 2023 confirmed Environment Minister Susana Muhamad. The 36% drop in deforestation, marks the lowest rate ever recorded, and attributed to peace efforts and strengthened conservation agreements.
Bogotá Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán announced new water rationing measures starting in July, aimed at mitigating the ongoing water crisis in the Colombian capital as reservoirs gradually recover.
The first edition of the Saving the Amazon Awards was held in Bogotá and recognized reforestation and conservation projects across Colombia, as well as innovative environmental projects the support indigenous Amazonian communities.
Colombian biologist and environmentalist Fernando Trujillo has been named the National Geographic Society’s 2024 Explorer of the Year. Trujillo’s Omacha Foundation works in the Colombian Amazonia to protect the pink river dolphin.
With a strong environmental message from the mayoralty, Bogotá will stage nine Festivals at the Park during 2024.
Colombia has made another breakthrough in ornithology with the discovery of ‘El Dorado Antpitta’. This elusive bird species was found in Colombia’s Sierra Nevada by Fundación ProAves, marking a rare find and underscoring the region’s rich biodiversity.
Bogotá is hosting the first No Car Day of 2024, and first with Carlos Fernando Galán as Mayor. The all-day event will clear the capital’s streets of more than 1,8 million vehicles.
As Bogotá grapples with air quality alerts given large forest fires that blazed out of control last week, Mayor Carlos Fernando Galán is being praised for his management of the crisis and environmental protection efforts.
Bogotá rallies in unprecedented solidarity as wildfires devastate unique Andean forest, with residents supporting 600 emergency responders and donating supplies, while efforts to rescue and protect the diverse wildlife continue.