Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland and Assistant Secretary for Insular and International Affairs Carmen G. Cantor concluded a weeklong visit to Colombia, focusing on international cooperation for biodiversity conservation, wildlife protection, and Indigenous community empowerment.

During their stay, they met with Colombian Interior Minister Juan Fernando Cristo and Acting Environment Minister Mauricio Cabrera Leal. Discussions centered around uplifting Indigenous communities and environmental conservation.

The delegation also engaged with the Colombian National Police on combating illegal wildlife trafficking. This issue is considered an international crisis involving poaching, smuggling, and illegal trade of protected species. Since 2021, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Office of Law Enforcement Regional Attaché in Embassy Lima has collaborated with Colombia’s National Police to address this problem linked to the United States and other countries. Combatting illegal wildlife trafficking is crucial for both conservation efforts between the United States and Colombia and global security.

Secretary Haaland held separate meetings with Colombian Indigenous leaders and Afro-Colombian Indigenous youth to discuss climate resilience, access to nature, equity, and economic opportunities for Indigenous communities in the region. She emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s initiatives like the Indian Youth Service Corps aimed at providing education, employment, and training opportunities through conservation projects on public and Tribal lands.

Their visit concluded in Colombia's Amazon region where they highlighted U.S. efforts in biodiversity conservation in collaboration with local communities. These efforts aim to create sustainable livelihoods contributing to long-term stability and economic development in Colombia. The visit followed President Biden’s trip to Manaus, Brazil earlier that week where he met with various leaders emphasizing significant domestic climate action.