Within the framework of World Environment Day, the Colombian Military Forces ratify their commitment to the preservation of ecosystems, through military and strategic operations that contribute to combating environmental crimes and protecting strategic assets of the Nation.
The General Command of the Military Forces through Colombian National Army, the Colombian Navy and the Aerospace Force, reiterate their commitment to the protection of natural resources and against environmental crimes; protecting natural resources is fundamental for the development and security of the country, through the implementation of the Line of Effort of the Amazonas Plus Plan.
According to the Department Against Transnational Threats - DECAT - through operations carried out in strict compliance with law, the fight against crimes that damage the natural environment is intensified, including the Illicit Exploitation of Mining deposits. These actions directly affect illegal activities and contribute to weakening structures linked to Organized Armed Groups (GAO) and Organized Crime Groups (GDO).
Troops report more than 540 joint, coordinated and interagency operations, more than 268 arrests this year for behavior related to environmental damage. Similarly, more than 400 specimens of wildlife have been seized, as well as more than 200 birds. This is complemented by the seizure of about 1,400 cubic meters of wood and more than 250 kilograms of illegal fishing.
In terms of ecological restoration, Colombian National Army has more than 170 nurseries, where processes of recovery of degraded ecosystems have been carried out, in coordination with the National Environmental System. These initiatives have led to the approximate planting of more than 700 thousand native specimens in different regions of the national territory.
For its part, the Colombian Navy is constant in its permanent operations in maritime and river areas, aimed at the protection of water sources and the conservation of aquatic specimens.
At the same time, the Colombian Aerospace Force has carried out more than 100 air missions, with manned and unmanned aircraft, focused on monitoring strategic ecosystems such as paramos and natural parks, with the purpose of preventing illegal activities and mitigating environmental damage.
These efforts not only contribute to the conservation of biodiversity, but in the same way have an impact on reducing the dynamics of organized crime, especially in border areas, strengthening the sovereignty, security and sustainability of the country.
In this sense, the Military Forces call on citizens to assume an active commitment to the defense of the natural environment, recalling that environmental protection is in the same way a collective responsibility and an essential component of national security.
Source: Strategic Communications General Command of the military forces
