LAND RESTITUTION AND DEFORESTATION IN COLOMBIA

Laura Peralta, Marie Boltz, Philippe Delacote, Kenneth Houngbedji and Julien Jacob

Working Papers of BETA from Bureau d'Economie Théorique et Appliquée, UDS, Strasbourg

Abstract: We examine the environmental impacts of legal provisions to restore land rights for populations displaced by armed conflict, focusing on Colombia’s Land Restitution Law. Leveraging annual satellite data on forest cover loss, detailed records of the timing and location of restitution claims, and a staggered difference-in-differences strategy, we find that land restitution is associated with increased tree cover loss. Importantly, this effect is not driven by deforestation in primary forests, but rather by forest loss in areas formerly used for agriculture. These findings highlight the environmental trade-offs inherent in post-conflict land reforms. While restoring land rights is critical for transitional justice and economic recovery, attention to environmental outcomes is essential to ensure sustainable and equitable reconstruction.

Keywords: Deforestation; Land rights; Internal conflict; Colombia (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: D74 O12 O13 O17 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Related works:
Working Paper: Land Restitution and Deforestation in Colombia (2025)
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:ulp:sbbeta:2025-38

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