Impact assessment of the fires in Colombia

The Data in Emergencies (DIEM) team at the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) examined satellite images from the beginning of December 2023 until 8 February 2024. DIEM conducted a rapid impact assessment to monitor and understand the impact of the fires, and to provide recommendations for recovery response. This StoryMap details the potential impact of the fires on agricultural production and livelihoods in Colombia while identifying which ethnic and family farming areas may have been more affected. Key highlights: The number of fires is greater than last year. The most affected departments were Arauca, Caquetá, Casanare, Cesar, Meta and Vichada. The most fires were found in Cravo Norte, Cumaribo, La Macarena, La Primavera, Mapiripán, Paz de Ariporo, Puerto Carreño, Puerto Gaitán and San Vicente del Caguán municipalities. Over 54 000 ha of land in Meta and over 152 000 ha of land in Vichada were burnt. Over 160 000 ha of grasslands (78 percent) and 40 000 ha of forest (20 percent) were burnt in Meta and Vichada. Banana, palm oil and cacao are the main agricultural crops located in the most affected areas. 639 ha of land was burnt in the farming and campesino’s reserve zones (zonas de reserva campesina), in Meta and Vichada, mostly the Losada-Guayabero and Cafre‑Güejar reserve zones. Burnt areas are mainly associated with grassland and livestock production, where cattle, pigs and horses are an important agricultural livelihood. This StoryMap identifies the possible damages and affects experienced by the livestock and crop producers. The negative impact of the fires on vegetation’s health is clearly seen, especially in Amazonas, Arauca, Casanare, Guainia, Meta, Vaupés and Vichada. The decrease in health of the vegetation might also be related to the rainfall deficit due to El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Over 40 000 ha of formalized indigenous reservations (resguardos indígenas) were burnt. The most impacted indigenous reservations were Resguardo Indígena Selva de Matavén (8 150 ha), Awia Tuparro and Marimba Tuparro (nearly 8 000 ha), Guahibo y Cuiva (Santa Teresita del Tuparro) (3 700 ha) and Nacuanedorro Tuparro (3 500 ha) in Meta and Vichada. The food security situation might worsen due to the fires and its negative impacts on agricultural livelihoods, especially in Arauca, Vaupés and Vichada. These departments had high prevalence of food insecurity over 2022 according to the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES). It is expected that the fires will lead to reduced availability and access to food for households reliant on these livelihoods over the upcoming consumption year.