Extreme Temperature Diary- Sunday August 3rd, 2025/Main Topic: Colombia Deforestation Surges 43%, Amazon Region Worst Hit – Guy On Climate
Dear Diary. Over the last decade on this website, I’ve often pointed to the Brazil as the keeper and protector of the Amazon Rainforest or ‘Lungs of the Earth.’ Brazil is like a chain smoker, though. A smoker that knows that cutting down vast tracks of trees for short term dollars is bad for the planet, yet they mostly can’t kick their addictive habit.
The Amazon Rainforest extends into other countries, though. Apparently, Columbia is also an ecological chain smoker that can’t kick its bad habit. Using this metaphor a bit further, we all soon will be suffering asthma from what these South American chain smokers are doing, and we can’t escape the room in which the smokers are having a big party. The bad news here is that deforestation across Columbia has increased to 43% during 2024 over 2023.
Here are more details from DW:
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For a video on the Amazon drought that I did not repost, hit the following link:
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Nature and Environment Colombia
Colombia deforestation surges 43%, Amazon region worst hit Srinivas Mazumdaru with AP, Reuters
August 1, 2025
Colombia recorded a sharp uptick in deforestation in the country’s Amazon rainforest for last year. The expansion of livestock farming and illegal construction were among the factors authorities blamed for the increase.
 The uptick marks a sharp reversal after 2023 saw deforestation go down by 36% year-over-year (FILE: December 6, 2021)Image: Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images
Colombia’s government said on Thursday that deforestation in the South American country increased as much as 43% in 2024 compared to the year before.
The Amazon rainforest region in the country was the worst hit.
Overall, some 113,608 hectares (about 280,700 acres) of forest were destroyed last year, according to data presented by the Environment Ministry and the IDEAM meteorological agency.
The uptick marks a sharp reversal after 2023 saw deforestation go down by 36% year-over-year, recording its lowest level in 23 years.
“Deforestation persists,” Environment Minister Lena Estrada said at a press conference in Bogota. “The most affected territory is the Amazon, a fragile region where vulnerable populations also live.”
The Amazon region accounted for more than 65% of the total loss, with some 75,000 hectares destroyed.
 Despite the 2024 spike, deforestation in Colombia remains lower than 2021 levels, say authoritiesImage: Raul Arboleda/AFP/Getty Images
What are the reasons for the spike in deforestation?Authorities blamed increasing land-grabbing for pastures, the expansion of livestock farming, illegal constructions, and more growing of illicit crops such as coca for the rise in deforestation.
Estrada said it was also partly driven by wildfires during a drought intensified by climate change.
Deforestation also rose inside protected national parks, including the regions of Tinigua, La Macarena and Chiribiquete, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Despite the 2024 spike, deforestation in Colombia remains lower than 2021 levels, continuing an overall downward trend since 2022. Ghisliane Echeverry, director of the IDEAM meteorological agency, said Colombia still maintains a net reduction in forest loss, compared to the baseline year of 2021.
Colombia is one of the countries with the greatest biodiversity in the world, home to thousands of plant and animal species.
It has approximately 59.1 million hectares of forest, covering more than half its territory.
Here are more “ET’s” recorded from around the planet the last couple of days, their consequences, and some extreme temperature outlooks, as well as any extreme precipitation reports:
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Here is More Climate News from Sunday:
Monthly average measured CO2.
Note: we don't know if this data will still be available in the future.
#climate — Datagraver (@datagraver.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T07:35:58.051Z
The marine heat wave in the North Pacific is one of the most extensive, spanning the giant N Pacific, and in spots, the most intense, I’ve observed. Anomalies near Japan are 15 F (8C) above normal. (Japan just recorded its hottest temp on record.)
The reason for this N Pacific heat wave is… 1/ — Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2025-08-02T17:13:38.367Z
In the longer term (esp. last 2-3 decades), as the chart shows, the mid-latitude oceans, including the N Pacific, are warming very rapidly due to Greenhouse warming, aerosol/ pollution reductions and the related climate feedbacks. — Jeff Berardelli (@weatherprof.bsky.social) 2025-08-02T17:15:07.268Z
June-July2025 temperature rank compared to all June-July periods since 1895. — Climatologist49 (@climatologist49.bsky.social) 2025-08-02T05:07:40.110Z
Excellent and important thread. There's so much homeowners can do to improve the odds their place will survive a fire, even if they can't afford every possible intervention. — Bob Henson (@bhensonweather.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T18:12:20.270Z
Your dog can’t sweat. Your baby can’t ask for water. Your elderly neighbor might not know they’re overheating.
Extreme heat is deadly – and not in the same way for everyone.
Know the risks, protect your people.
yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/07/the-... — Yale Climate Connections (@climateconnections.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T17:05:15.523Z
It's the "it" term for heat waves these days, even if it's not the most apt description in some cases.
yaleclimateconnections.org/2025/08/is-h... — Bob Henson (@bhensonweather.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T15:53:12.100Z
A fish started a wildfire. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/... — Andrew Kurjata (@akurjata.ca) 2025-08-01T19:29:28.180Z
"Where are all the Atlantic hurricanes?"
Yes, the Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1. But between Jun 1 and Jul 31, it's more likely for a given day to have ZERO active tropical storms or hurricanes!
The below chart breaks it down by day. Through Jul 31, most days are below 25%! — Kim Wood (@drkimwood.bsky.social) 2025-08-01T15:48:50.771Z
#Climate issues are not going away dear Texas💥💥💥
#VoteClimate
#GopClimateDeniers
#BlueEarth
#OV1 — Amarie (@humanwolf.bsky.social) 2025-08-02T14:29:27.269Z
#Climate issues are not going away dear Texas💥💥💥
#VoteClimate
#GopClimateDeniers
#BlueEarth
#OV1 — Amarie (@humanwolf.bsky.social) 2025-08-02T14:29:27.269Z
Despicable EPA propaganda -- they've collected statements supporting their effort to stop regulating #climate destroying pollutants from extreme climate deniers, MAGA sycophants & cultists, & fossil-fuel interests.
Odd they left out scientists & the vulnerable public.
www.epa.gov/newsreleases... — Peter Gleick (@petergleick.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T14:26:48.980Z
🦋 Good Night Everyone 🦋
~~~ Sweet Dreams ~~~
#Photography
#Climate
#Nature
#Clouds
#Sunset
#GoldenHour
WHEN SKIES ARE A BEAUTIFUL WORK OF ART 🌅 🎨 🖌️ — Karen Barry-Davies (@wheelan.bsky.social) 2025-08-03T21:37:23.759Z
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