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Acoforag Reveals to Congress the Constant Violence Facing Forestry Workers

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• Before the Commission on Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development, René Muñoz, the association's manager, presented the severe situation of violence affecting workers and business owners in the forestry sector.

The Association of Forestry Contractors (Acoforag) brought to light an alarming reality in the forestry industry: the unrelenting violence that has resulted in murdered workers, destroyed equipment, and a constant climate of fear.

René Muñoz, manager of Acoforag, presented a grim outlook to the Commission on Agriculture, Forestry, and Rural Development of the Chamber of Deputies, a situation that has been affecting the sector for years.

Since the implementation of Decree 39 in 1997, forestry contractors have faced an unprecedented crisis. Muñoz revealed that, since 2014, there have been 489 attacks, averaging 4 attacks per month and 13 pieces of equipment destroyed monthly over 11 years. Despite a slight decrease in violent incidents this year, the crisis persists with 2.7 criminal incidents per month.

The violence has not only directly impacted business owners, with 478 affected and losses valued at $210 million, but it has also severely affected workers. Muñoz emphasized that approximately 48,000 workers and their families, totaling 144,000 people, have been impacted by this constant threat. Additionally, he lamented the deaths of 4 workers in the context of this violence.

The Acoforag manager also pointed out that half of the communes in the southern macrozone are affected by violence, with an average of 21 communes impacted each month. This situation has led 40 business owners to abandon the industry, unable to continue operating in an unsafe environment with no conditions to carry out their work.

Muñoz criticized the lack of response from the State, noting that in 11 years, only 3 of the 489 attacks have been resolved. The sense of abandonment is palpable, and the association demands greater state presence in the territory, support for the Prosecutor's Office, and respect for the Rule of Law. Furthermore, they urged political dialogue to accompany police strategies to restore peace and stability in the region.

The crisis in the forestry sector is not only a security issue but also a challenge for economic development and the fight against climate change, given the importance of forestry in these areas. Acoforag urgently calls on authorities to take concrete measures and restore peace for forestry workers and business owners.