Colombia's new president, Gustavo Petro, inherits significant environmental challenges from his predecessor, Iván Duque, including high rates of deforestation and inadequate protection of natural areas. Despite Duque's efforts, such as planting 143 million trees and launching Operation Artemisa, experts and former officials criticize the effectiveness and impact of these policies. The Duque administration's anti-deforestation measures and protection of marine and terrestrial areas are questioned, with claims that many protections exist only on paper. The Petro government is expected to address these issues, with a focus on protecting environmental defenders, combating illegal mining, and improving the management of protected areas. Indigenous communities, recognized as key environmental protectors, seek better engagement and protection strategies from the new government.

Operation Artemis, launched by the Colombian government in 2019 to combat deforestation, has been deemed a failure. Despite substantial investment and military deployment, the operation only tackled 3% of the total deforested areas in Colombia's national parks over two years. The campaign led to the capture of 113 people and destruction of infrastructure, but deforestation rates continued to rise. Experts and community members criticized the operation for its ineffectiveness, lack of transparency, and human rights violations. The current administration under President Gustavo Petro has decided to shift the focus of the operation to address social, economic, and productive aspects for communities.

Venezuela has lost over 790,500 hectares of forest and 290,000 hectares of natural savannas between 2000 and 2020, primarily due to agricultural expansion, mining, and infrastructure development. The deforestation rate has accelerated since the creation of the Arco Minero by President Nicolás Maduro's government, with an annual expansion rate exceeding 75,000 hectares. The report by SOS Orinoco and Clima21, based on satellite imagery, projects that if current trends continue, the loss could reach 1.5 million hectares by 2030. Illegal mining, particularly in the Amazonian states of Bolívar and Amazonas, has been identified as a major driver of deforestation, affecting indigenous communities and biodiversity. The Venezuelan military's operations against illegal mining and their reforestation efforts have been criticized as ineffective and superficial. The lack of official data on deforestation and mercury contamination is also highlighted, with calls for regional and international cooperation to address these issues.

Indigenous Awa leaders from Nariño, Colombia, have sued the semi-state oil company Ecopetrol and its subsidiary Cenit, along with public entities ANLA and Corponariño, demanding a halt to oil spills and restoration of ecosystems affected by leaks from the Transandino Pipeline. Despite a judge rejecting their initial legal action, the Awa nation is appealing and may take their case to the Constitutional Court. The pipeline, owned by Ecopetrol and operated by Cenit, has had over 447 spills since 2014, with actual numbers likely higher since incidents began in 2009. The spills have contaminated water sources and sacred territories, affecting the Awa's access to water and food. Ecopetrol denies responsibility, blaming illegal armed groups for the spills and valve installations. The Awa are seeking environmental remediation, health studies, and the development of productive projects to sustain them amidst ongoing oil damage.

Wildlife in Colombia has been severely affected by forest fires, particularly in the regions of Bogotá, Cundinamarca, Santander, and Norte de Santander. Over 60 hectares in Bogotá and nearly 1400 hectares in Cundinamarca were burned. The fires also damaged national parks, including El Tuparro and El Cocuy. Environmental officials and veterinarians have been rescuing and treating injured wildlife and domestic animals. The Ministry of Environment has issued guidelines for animal management during fires. Species such as owls, lizards, and rodents have been rescued in Bogotá, while in Cundinamarca, some animals received veterinary care but not all survived. In Santander, a porcupine and two opossums were treated, and a harlequin frog was returned to its habitat. The fires have led to a significant loss of biodiversity, particularly affecting the páramo ecosystem, which is crucial for water supply. National parks have temporarily closed some areas to assess and manage the fire damage.

The harpy eagle, classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN, may see population growth in Venezuela due to accelerated development cycles linked to drought conditions in the Amazon region. Alexander Blanco, director of Venezuela's national harpy eagle conservation program and a 2017 Whitley Award winner, notes that the species is reaching adulthood faster, with some fledglings flying at three months. Despite potential population increases, threats from mining and deforestation due to agricultural expansion persist. Venezuela is home to approximately 1,500 harpy eagle pairs, with the Imataca Forest Reserve being a key habitat. Conservation efforts face challenges from human activities, including illegal trafficking, and lack of state support, but have seen some success with community engagement and sustainable practices.

In 1985, the eruption of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano caused the Armero tragedy, affecting the departments of Caldas and Tolima and resulting in over 23,000 deaths. Since March 2023, volcanic activity has increased, prompting Colombia to raise the alert level to orange on March 31, indicating a potential eruption in the coming days or weeks. The government has established a unified command post to monitor the situation and has announced plans to evacuate over 40 families, with 2,000 families still in high-risk areas. Vulcanologist Natalia Pardo from the University of the Andes in Bogotá explains the behavior of the volcano, the likelihood of an eruption, and the nature of volcanic eruptions and ash. The magma is currently four kilometers from the crater's surface, and the volcano has reached 10,000 earthquakes per day, indicating magma movement.

The Colombian government's decision to destroy machinery used in illegal mining in Bajo Cauca, Antioquia, led to a regional strike and confrontations with the Clan del Golfo, which profits from narcotics and illegal gold mining. The strike, which began on March 2, 2023, involved blockades that lasted at least eleven days. Negotiations between miners and the government are ongoing, with the government insisting on the destruction of mining machinery. The government has disabled 951 illegal mines since August 2022 and is working on formalizing mining activities while addressing environmental impacts. Experts emphasize the complexity of the issue, the need for a comprehensive policy, and the challenges of ecosystem restoration.

The Inga people of Villagarzón, Colombia, are celebrating the withdrawal of the oil company Gran Tierra from their territory. The company had been granted a license for the APE La Cabaña project in 2014 without proper consultation with the indigenous communities. Legal challenges by the Inga led to the recognition of their presence and the suspension of the project. Despite the company's departure, concerns remain about the lack of consultation for future projects and the environmental impact of the oil exploration. The Inga, supported by legal advisors and organizations like Ambiente y Sociedad, continue to fight for the recognition of their rights and the remediation of their territory.

The Colombian State Council ruled in favor of a public action demanding stricter mining regulations, particularly in environmentally sensitive areas. The ruling includes eight orders for the state, emphasizing the need for the Ministries of Environment and Mines to coordinate on mining titles to protect ecosystems. The ruling also mandates the creation of a system to visualize Colombian territory for better case-by-case analysis. The compliance with this ruling falls under the oversight of the Comptroller's Office and the Attorney General's Office. The ruling does not prohibit mining title requests or exploitation but requires environmental certification for any new requests during the ruling's implementation period. The National Mining Agency must refrain from granting mining permits if there is any doubt about environmental impact. The ruling is not clearly retroactive, but President Gustavo Petro and Environment Minister Susana Muhammad have indicated a review of past titles. The State Council ordered the development of an information system within two years to address overlaps between mining titles and environmental areas, with the entire ruling to be executed within five years.

The article discusses the environmental challenges faced by Colombia, highlighting the failure of former President Duque's administration to effectively combat deforestation, which worsened by 5% during his term. The new government under President Gustavo Petro inherits these issues, with deforestation being a significant challenge. Experts and former officials criticize Duque's policies, such as the Artemisa military operation and the tree planting initiative, for being insufficient and poorly executed. The article also touches on the protection of social and environmental leaders, the fight against illegal mining and deforestation, and the need for better management of protected areas. Petro's government is expected to address these challenges, with a focus on environmental protection and indigenous rights.

The Muon g-2 Experiment at Fermilab in Illinois, where the author works, announced a recent measurement of the muon's magnetism on April 7, which suggests that muons do not behave as predicted by the Standard Model of particle physics. The measurement, which aligns with past results from Brookhaven National Laboratory in New York, indicates that the muon's magnetism is slightly stronger than the theory suggests. Although only 6% of the data has been collected, the experiment is expected to run for two more years to gather sufficient data to potentially declare a discovery that could change the course of physics or validate the Standard Model. The research team at Fermilab will continue to generate and analyze data, while theoretical physicists will carefully examine recent calculations based on the Standard Model.

China Tobacco's Panama-based factory was shut down after authorities found its products in the country's black market. A network of Panama-connected companies continues to send large quantities of Chinese cigarettes to various Latin American countries. The Zona Libre de Colón, while a tax-free commercial showcase, is also a hub for smuggling, according to expert Daniel Rico. Journalists have uncovered a network of fake companies based in Panama that send huge amounts of Chinese cigarettes from the free zone to Latin American countries where there is no legal market for such products. These companies are linked to the state-owned China National Tobacco Corporation (CNTC), which controls almost half of the global market and is trying to expand its reach. The smuggling of CNTC cigarettes has flooded countries from Mexico to Ecuador, with packaging in Spanish indicating they are manufactured specifically for Latin American markets. The pattern of smuggling is growing rapidly, with significant increases in seizures in Colombia and Brazil. Panama is identified as a key regional center for this illicit trade, with lax regulations and enforcement allowing companies to exploit the system with little punishment.

Thousands of Maasai were displaced by energy projects in Kenya funded by the European Investment Bank (EIB). The projects have led to the loss of ancestral lands for the Maasai community.

The article discusses the prevalence and consequences of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) globally, highlighting that 145 million girls and women have been affected, with the practice occurring in 29 countries, mostly in Africa. FGM causes severe health issues, psychological trauma, and is considered a violation of human rights. The article reveals that FGM is not just an African issue but is also found in the Middle East, Asia, and among immigrant communities in Europe and North America. It explores the different types of FGM and the challenges faced by NGOs and governments in combating the practice. The article also covers initiatives in countries like Sudan, Somalia, Benin, and Kenya, and discusses the role of genital reconstructive surgery for survivors. Despite some progress, the article emphasizes the need for continued efforts to eradicate FGM, with millions of girls still at risk.