The current situation of the amazon forests and other ecosystems in Latin America has set off alarm bells. While in some countries the deforestation seems to be under control thanks to better monitoring mechanisms and public policies, the phenomenon of forest degradation and new threats such as illegal minery are seriously weakening the ecological integrity of entire regions. At the same time, there is growing recognition of the fundamental role played by certain social groups, especially Afro-descendant peoples and local communities, in reducing the rates of forest loss and in conserving biodiversity and carbon stocks.
The latest scientific research shows that environmental damage is not limited to the complete felling of trees. Recurring fires, droughts caused by climate change, resource extraction, and illegal logging all act silently, degrading forests from within and compromising both biodiversity and essential ecosystem functions for millions of people.
The silent advance of forest degradation
In the case of Brazil, although the rate of deforestation has reached its lowest level in ten years, degradation of the Amazon has grown by 163% in just two years, according to data from several national and international scientific institutions. More than 25.000 square kilometers of jungle have suffered significant damage, equivalent to an area larger than entire countries like Israel.
66% of the total degraded relates to forest fires caused mainly by human activities and prolonged droughts. This pressure erodes tree health, weakens the forest's ability to capture carbon, and jeopardizes the stability of local biodiversity.
While deforestation involves the total elimination of vegetation, degradation It acts progressively. The forest may appear normal from the outside, but inside it is observed a loss of ecological functionality and resilience, affecting species composition, soil quality, and the production of key environmental services, such as climate regulation or water provision.
The environmental consequences are serious: they are generated annual emissions of between 50 and 200 million tonnes of CO₂, impacting the fight against climate change. Furthermore, biodiversity loss is accelerating, and many iconic species—from jaguars to tropical birds and river dolphins—are facing threats to their survival. Restoring these areas can take decades, and in many cases, the original ecosystem never fully recovers.
One of the main challenges of degradation is the difficulty of monitoring it. Detecting it requires advanced technologies, high-resolution images, and fieldwork, which complicates government responses. Therefore, experts emphasize the importance of strengthening oversight, restoring damaged areas, and promoting responsible agriculture and have the active participation of the communities.
Illegal deforestation and mining as a growing threat
En Argentina, regions such as Santiago del Estero and Chaco have registered 31.000 hectares illegally deforested in just six months, according to Greenpeace. These figures are more than one and a half times the size of the city of Buenos Aires. Environmental organizations complain that economic sanctions are not a deterrent and that the complicity of local governments encourages deforestation, often in areas protected by national legislation.
For its part, in the Ecuadorian Amazon, the illegal minery has doubled since 2020 and it is estimated that in the province of Napo alone more than 1.700 hectares of forest since 2017This activity not only eliminates vegetation but also destroys the topography, contaminates waterways and soil with mercury, and endangers key water sources. The reports highlight the impact on water protection areas and the growing pressure on Indigenous and rural communities, who see their environment and livelihoods deteriorating.
Proposals to halt the expansion of mining and deforestation include strengthening the satellite monitoring, the strict application of sanctions, the creation of exclusion zones around rivers and the reform of environmental regulations, in addition to the effective recognition of the rights of local populations.
The key role of Afro-descendant and local communities
The territories managed by Afro-descendant peoples In Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador and Suriname they show deforestation rates up to 55% lower compared to the national average, according to a study published in Nature Communications Earth and EnvironmentThese lands, although they occupy only 1% of the surface area of these countries, contain a biological wealth and irrecoverable carbon dioxide (carbon that, if lost, cannot be restored for decades) that is far higher than average.
The explanation lies in the diversity of management practices inherited over centuries: from diversified production systems (food plots, agroforestry, escape agriculture) to respect for local biodiversity and the integration of ethnobotanical knowledge and a spirituality deeply connected to the environment. These strategies have succeeded in maintaining healthier and more resilient landscapes in the face of external pressures.
However, experts warn that legal recognition of these territories remains insufficient and call for greater representation of Afro-descendant peoples in international forums, as well as increased research resources and support for community management. Science supports the need to integrate these practices and perspectives into global climate and conservation policies.
Legal and technological challenges to curbing forest loss
The data show that the fight against deforestation and degradation requires a coordinated response at multiple levels. Environmental organizations such as Greenpeace are demanding that fines and administrative sanctions be replaced or accompanied by effective penalization of environmental crimesImpunity and regulatory loopholes allow companies and individuals to continue destroying forests, seeing fines as a mere operating cost.
Brazil, for example, has made an international commitment to reducing its net greenhouse gas emissions by 59% to 67% by 2035. Sustainable forest management and the restoration of degraded areas will be key to achieving these goals and maintaining international confidence ahead of events such as the upcoming UN climate change conference (COP30).
Finally, improved detection technologies – from higher-resolution satellite imagery to advanced land-use change monitoring models – are making it possible to identify hotspots. degradation and with greater precision. However, this technical progress must go hand in hand with solid public policies, adequate economic incentives for conservation (especially through well-designed carbon markets) and the direct participation of local and indigenous communities.
