Encompassing a mere 0.8 percent of the world's land mass, Colombia's total forest coverage accounts for 10 percent of the earth's biodiversity. Colombia's forests are the home of 55,000 plant species, one-third of which are endemic. Over 2,000 plant species have yet to be identified, and an even greater number have yet to be analyzed for potential curative purposes. Deforestation and human encroachment has begun to erode the social and economic structures of these communities. Crime, alcoholism and domestic violence has sharply increased in recent years.
Pacific region consists of lush rainforests and contains most of the country's natural resources.
Under Colombia's ambitious plans to develop their economy, the area has become targeted for the extraction and exportation of natural resources in the last ten years. There has been a considerable drop in mangrove coverage with the installation of commercial shrimp farms, and massive sedimentation and mercury contamination in rivers has been caused by deforestation and uncontrolled mining. Another objective of Plan Pacifico is to link a 54 kilometer missing section of the Panamerican Highway between Colombia and Panama in order to foster trade. Road construction, along with rapid regional development that will ensue, will result in massive deforestation.