After falling to a record low in 2023, deforestation claimed 107,000 hectares last year -- a 35-percent increase but still the second-lowest level on record, according to Environment Minister Susana Muhamad.

"The increase is obviously not good news, but it must be seen in historical context," said Muhamad.

The Macarena and Tinigua national parks were two of the five locations where deforestation shot up last year, she added, blaming land grabs by "large operations with lots of capital" to make way for cultivation of oil palm and coca leaf -- the main ingredient in cocaine.

Experts say guerrilla fighters who rejected a 2016 peace deal that caused the bulk of the FARC rebel army to disarm are allowing deforestation in areas under their control to put pressure on the government in peace negotiations.

The guerrillas are preventing state forces from entering these areas, said Muhamad.

Colombia, one of nine countries that share the Amazon rainforest, last year hosted a first leg of the COP16 UN conference on biodiversity in the city of Cali with Muhamad as its president.

The conference will resume in Rome next week, seeking to unblock funds for species protection.