Latin America Advisor 2024-02-16 – Inter-American Dialogue

LATIN AMERICA ADVISOR

A daily publication Of the dialogue

February 16, 2024

How Can Colombia Get the Upper Hand Against Wildfires?

Soaring temperatures and the El Niño weather phenomenon have contributed to the spread of forest fires in Colombia. Firefighters put out hundreds of fires last month in the country. // File Photo: @DNBomberosCol via X.

Q

Colombia declared its wildfires a disaster on Jan. 25 and called upon the international community for help. Dozens of fires have been burning across the country, and conditions are set to worsen with the onset of drier, warmer temperatures, partly associated with the El Niño weather phenomenon. What kind of help does Colombia need to combat the fires, and is it receiving the aid it needs to address the situation? What are the root causes of Colombia’s wildfire crisis, and what can the nation do to prevent such disasters in the future?

A

Felipe Roa-Clavijo, food and climate policy professor at the School of Government at the University of the Andes in Colombia: “In Colombia, wildfires have become a growing concern, exacerbated by the El Niño phenomenon and the dry season. This year, we’ve witnessed expanded activity across various regions of the country, especially in natural areas like forests and highland ecosystems known as páramos. In Santander department, the páramo of Berlín, a high-mountain ecosystem, has been particularly affected, with an estimated 400 hectares devastated by the flames. Additionally, the impact of El Niño is evident in water scarcity, as seen in the alarming state of the Magdalena River in certain areas, which is nearly dried up. While fires in the Andean regions have grabbed most of the media attention, the Orinoquía region, in the lower eastern plains of Colombia, has suffered the largest extent of…”

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Venezuela Orders U.N. Rights Office to Shut Down

Venezuela ordered the local U.N. human rights office to halt its operations. Foreign Minister Yván Gil accused it of “colonialist, abusive” behavior and encouraging opposition to the government. // File Photo: Venezuelan Government.

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The Inter-American Dialogue publishes the Latin America Advisor every business day for a distinguished membership of informed corporate leaders, scholars, and government officials invested in Latin America’s development and future. The Advisor‘s highly regarded Q&A section covers questions submitted by subscribers themselves. Commentators regularly include heads of state, business leaders, diplomats, economists, analysts, and thought leaders from around the world. Many of the world’s largest and fastest-growing companies subscribe to the Advisor. To subscribe, click here. For terms and conditions, click here. For more information, contact Gene Kuleta, editor of the Advisor, at gkuleta@thedialogue.org.

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Diego Arria
Director,
Columbus Group

Merike Blofield
Professor of Political Science,
University of Hamburg

Devry Boughner Vorwerk
CEO,
DevryBV Sustainable Strategies

Joyce Chang
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J.P. Morgan

Marlene Fernández
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Peter Hakim
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Jon E. Huenemann
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James R. Jones
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Craig Kelly
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Int’l Gov’t Relations,
Exxon Mobil

Barbara Kotschwar
Professor of Political Economy,
Georgetown University

John Maisto
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US Education Finance Group

Nicolas Mariscal
Chairman,
Grupo Marhnos

Thomas F. McLarty III
Chairman,
McLarty Associates

Beatrice Rangel
Director,
AMLA Consulting

Ernesto Revilla
Head of Latin American Economics, Citi

Gustavo Roosen
President,
IESA

Andrés Rozental
President, Rozental &
Asociados

Shelly Shetty
Managing Director,
Sovereigns, Fitch

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