Colombia: Colombia Brings 12 Mexican Mennonites to Trial over Deforestation

Feb 24, 2026
MercoPress
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Colombia’s prosecutor’s office is taking 12 Mexican Mennonites to trial over alleged deforestation of more than 100 hectares in rural Puerto Gaitán, Meta province, tied to agricultural land development carried out between 2016 and 2021.

Prosecutors say the group cut natural forest and cleared vegetation without environmental permits, while also affecting waterways and carrying out works designed to enable the movement of heavy machinery — including building bridges to link neighboring plots. The defendants face charges that include illegal use of renewable natural resources, damage to natural resources and invasion of an area deemed of special ecological importance.