President Abelardo De la Espriella's government revoked Resolution 0961, which barred new large-scale mining and hydrocarbon extraction across more than 48 million Amazon hectares. Removing the rule does not itself award titles, contracts or environmental licences.
Environment Minister Fabio Arjona says the measure lacked prior consultation with Afro-Colombian, Raizal and Palenquero communities. He says 75% remains under parks, Indigenous territories, forest reserves and other protections.
Environmental groups call the resolution a complementary and politically important barrier. Amazon Watch's Raphael Hoetmer sees revocation as a pro-extraction signal, while noting neither rule alone controls realities on the ground.
Existing pressure includes 14 million hectares of oil and gas blocks, 28% of Colombia's Amazon, with eight million overlapping intact forest. Putumayo holds over 70% of production blocks and more than 250 active wells.
Eight Indigenous Territorial Entities recognised in 2025 cover over seven million hectares, about 15% of the national Amazon. GAIA Amazonas' Juan David Varela says their constitutional process predates any administration.
Absent dialogue can stall autonomy and forest governance, while legal rules alone cannot stop illegal mining, deforestation and roads. Institutions, justice, open information and Indigenous authority determine effectiveness.
Government should publish the revocation file, complete consultation and define replacement safeguards before new applications, with an open map of blocks, titles, licences, intact forest and ETI decisions.
