President Iván Duque Márquez, accompanied a new phase of Operation Artemisa in which 12,358 hectares of forests, natural parks and jungle have been recovered during its nine phases.
The governor, who visited Mapiripán, Meta, accompanied by the minister of Defence, Diego Molano; the Environment minister, Carlos Correa, the minister of the Interior, Daniel Palacios; the Commander of the Military Forces, general Luis Fernando Navarro; the Commander of the National Army, general Eduardo Enrique Zapateiro and the general Sergio Tafur, commander of the Joint Command is No.3, among other senior officials, stated that when the security and defense policy was launched, one of the strategic axes was the protection of the natural heritage.
“ We have already carried out an important, evolutionary and continuous process with Operation Artemisa. This is a more decisive operation and more coordinated with national and international institutions. Clearly deforestation is an ecocide that for years has lacerated our country,” said President Duque.
Minister of Defense, Diego Molano Aponte, said that, during Operation Artemisa, 22,300 men of the Military Forces (soldiers and police officers) have been sent in order to protect and defend the protected areas of the national territory.
“It is an integrated work of all our branches. We have 10 high mountain Battalions (they take care of the Paramos); a brigade against drug trafficking; a brigade against illegal mining; and units of Coast Guard, Navy infantry and units of the National Police,” said the minister, who added that Artemisa not only rescues natural assets, but attacks drug trafficking.
It is noteworthy that the National Government, within the framework of security and defense policy, has prioritized the protection of biodiversity and the environment as elements that must be preserved and recognized as strategic assets of the nation.
“The Artemisa campaign took place to stop the increase in deforestation; recovering the rainforest and our forests; and prosecuting the criminals responsible for deforestation,” the Defense Minister said.
In this sense, during the Nine (9) phases of Operation Artemisa, the Military Forces in coordination with the Ministry of the environment and the Attorney General's Office has managed to capture 81 people by arrest warrant and/or in flagrante for different environmental crimes.
In the same way 32 constructions had been destroyed along with an illegal road and two bridges in a natural protection zone; in the same way seven irons for cattle marks, 23 chainsaws, seven scythes, and six vehicles, have been found.
“Artemisa provides support to environmental and administrative authorities, to preserve and defend water, biodiversity and the environment in forest reserve areas, protected areas, and in 59 National Natural Parks,” the minister explained.
Some of the interventions that Artemisa has made are the National Natural Parks Serranía Chiribiquete, La Paya, Tinigua, Picachos, Serranía de La Macarena, and the Forest Reserve area of the Amazon.
Finally, the minister said that "the inheritance to our next generations has to be protected today. We're doing it. Artemisa's victory is not only the victory of the Colombians of today but in the same way that of those of tomorrow,” he concluded.
Source: Defence Sector Communications Office-Ministry of National Defence
