So far this year, more than 60 cubic meters of native wood have been found by the Colombian Navy in the departments of Guainía and Vichada, which is commonly used for the construction of houses and rudimentary boats.
In the ongoing operation to counter environmental crimes in Eastern Colombia, the Military Forces reported finding 52.1 cubic meters of wood of the mahogany, granadillo and cedar specimens, which were being extracted irregularly in the departments of Vichada and Guainía, harming the fauna and flora of the region.
Military personnel of the Colombian Navy, the National Army and National Police units, in coordination with officials of the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Orinoquía - Corporinoquía, arrived in the sector known as El Caiman, a rural area of the municipality of Puerto Carreño - Vichada, to provide support due to a denunciation about possible illegal activities, associated with environmental crimes, that unknown persons would be committing in this area of the Colombian Orinoquia.
Upon arriving at the place, the authorities reported corroborating that more than two hectares of native trees, equivalent to about 60 basketball courts approximately, had been deforested. More than 50 cubic meters of wood that were ready to be commercialized, a chainsaw and a bongo-type boat were found by troops at the site. materials that were put into custody of the authorities in the municipality of Puerto Carreño - Vichada.
In the same way, continuing the operation against environmental crimes at a river checkpoint on the Inírida River, near the main pier of the capital city of Guainía, the Military Forces and the Corporation for the Sustainable Development of the North and East of the Amazon – CDA, reported finding more than two cubic meters of wood, which were being transported by a woman on board a boat, without the documentation that supported the legality of the material, nor the necessary safe conduct for its transportation.
The wood found, which is presumed to be used in the construction of houses and rudimentary boats, as well as for the elaboration of furniture, handicrafts, toys, among others, was put into custody of the environmental authorities of the department of Guainía.
It is important to mention that to reforest the exploited area the planet can take by 20 and 25 years to repair it, that's why the illegal exploitation of flora is one of the crimes that represents the greatest loss to the Colombian ecosystem, harming the habitat of millions of animals, plants and the survival of the human being.
During these military operations, no arrests were made; however, control operations will continue to be carried out throughout the Colombian Orinoquia region and people caught carrying out deforestation activities will be brought to justice to answer for the crime of illicit exploitation of renewable natural resources, which includes priosn sentence of up to 11 years and a fine of 43,750 legal minimum wages in force, according to Law 2111 of 2021.
The Colombian Navy will continue to carry out operations in favor of the protection of water, biodiversity and the environment of Eastern Colombia, preventing deforestation and the illicit exploitation of timber specimens. In the same way, it invites people to report acts that threaten the fauna and flora of the region in a timely manner by calling the civic participation network of the Eastern Naval Force at the cellphone number 313 215 9779.
Source: Press – Navy of Colombia
