Colombia: President Petro signed the Indigenous Authority Decree

Published at: 16/10/2024 09:41 AM

The president of Colombia, Gustavo Petro, signed last Tuesday Decree 1275 of 2024 on Indigenous Authority, which expands the powers of the authorities of ancestral communities to protect the environment; at the same time he warned that some sectors of the country will try to sabotage their development.

The Head of State explained that indigenous communities will have the same authority as Regional Autonomous Corporations for the protection of ecosystems in their living spaces based on their ancestral knowledge.

The text, with the force of law, gives them the status of environmental authorities. According to the Ministry of the Environment, they will have powers over the harmonious protection of ecosystems, the formulation and development of environmental regulation and management instruments, such as indigenous environmental management plans.

It also provides for ensuring effective coordination of these settlements with other authorities and state bodies for environmental protection.

“Before science, it was the indigenous communities of all continents, and especially the indigenous communities of the Americas, because of their worship of Mother Earth, which allowed balance to exist,” said President Petro.

Mazo News Team