In less than a generation, legal mining in Colombia deforested over 120,000 hectares

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• A study by researchers in Colombia found that forest clearing by legal mining operations has increased sharply in recent years.
• The study shows that just 1% of the 8,600 legal mining concessions in the country account for 60% of the deforestation associated with the sector.
• The authors say that if mining titles continue to be granted at current rates, Colombia could lose 400,000 hectares (990,000 acres) of forest from legal mining alone over the next two decades.

Legal mining in Colombia is a significant driver of deforestation, contributing to the destruction of 121,819 hectares (301,021 acres) of forest from 2001 to 2018. During that time, deforestation from legal mining has increased, accounting for 5.6% of total deforestation in 2017.

https://news-mongabay-com.cdn.amppr...colombia-deforested-over-120000-hectares/amp/