Colombia Supreme Court Orders Government To Protect Rainforest

Colombia’s Supreme Court ruled that deforestation in the Amazon forest is hazardous to the health of future generations, and it ordered the government to take action.

The ruling, made Thursday, April 5, was in favor of 25 youth plaintiffs who argued that a lack of government action in preventing the deforestation of the rainforest was detrimental to their future, according to a Brinkwire report.

Deeming that deforestation has not been sufficiently addressed, the court gave the government four months to establish a plan with short-term, medium-term and long-term goals to protect the Colombian Amazon.

The ruling recognizes the Amazon as an “entity of subject of rights,” meaning that the state has a duty to “protect, conserve, maintain, and restore” it.

Deforestation in the Colombian Amazon increased 44 percent between 2015 and 2016.