Victory! Colombia Passes Historic Ban On New Oil, Gas, And Large-Scale Mining Projects In The Amazon

Colombia has taken a historic stand by protecting its entire portion of the Amazon rainforest from new oil, gas, and large-scale mining projects, marking a major victory for the planet and its precious wildlife.

The announcement was made at the Meeting of Environment Ministers of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) during COP30. Colombia also called on neighboring countries to form an “Amazon Alliance for Life,” placing the protection of the rainforest at the center of environmental justice and peace with nature.

“Colombia has decided to take the first step. We have been the first country in the Amazon basin to declare the entirety of the Colombian portion of the Amazon biome as a reserve zone for renewable natural resources, protecting this biome from large-scale mining and hydrocarbon activities. We are doing this not only as an act of environmental sovereignty, but also as a fraternal call to the other countries that share the Amazon biome, because the Amazon knows no borders and its care requires that we walk together,” said Irene Vélez Torres, Minister of Environment and Sustainable Development, in a statement.

Although Colombia represents just 7% of the Amazon biome, it has chosen to protect it all, setting a powerful example of leadership and responsibility at a critical moment for the planet.

“The rainforest is one, the rivers have no borders, and neither does life. Caring for the Amazon is not an economic sacrifice; it is an ethical investment in the future of the region and of humanity,” stated Torres.

The declaration designates the Colombian Amazon as a Renewable Natural Resources Reserve, blocking new extractive mining and hydrocarbon projects across more than 483,164 square kilometers, 42% of Colombia’s continental territory, and 7% of the entire Amazon basin.

“This declaration is an ethical and scientific commitment. It seeks to prevent the degradation of forests, the pollution of rivers, and the loss of biodiversity that threatens the continent’s climate balance. It is a decision for life,” continued Torres.

The protections apply to Amazonas, Caquetá, Guaviare, Guainía, Putumayo, and Vaupés, regions heavily impacted by deforestation and illegal mining. The Colombian Amazon is home to 10% of the planet’s known plant species and plays a critical role in regulating climate and water systems for millions of people.

“Colombia says to the world today: it’s not about how much we extract, but about how much we are able to protect. No economic project can be above the right to life, water, and the future of all humanity and the Amazonian peoples,” concluded Torres.

Alongside this decision, Amazonian nations launched the Special Commission on Environment and Climate (Cemac) to strengthen regional cooperation, combat environmental crime, protect biodiversity, and support Indigenous and local communities.

Protecting vital rainforests like the Amazon is essential to preserving critical ecosystems and protecting the precious wildlife that depend on them to survive.