The protection of the Amazon now has a new forum for discussion and oversight in the Congress of the Republic. On September 21, the Speaker of the House of Representatives issued Resolution 0643 of 2026, officially establishing the Ad Hoc Commission for the Protection of the Amazon, a body whose objectives will include promoting legislative initiatives, introducing bills, monitoring public policies related to the region, and fostering coordination among different sectors.
The creation of this commission responds to the need to strengthen legislative debate surrounding one of the country’s strategic territories. According to the resolution, the commission’s functions will include promoting and developing a National Legislative Agenda for the Amazon, with initiatives aimed at protecting the rights of indigenous peoples, Afro-descendants, local communities, and rural farmers, as well as defending biodiversity, water resources, sustainable development, and other issues of interest to the region.
The Commission will also be tasked with monitoring the formulation, implementation, and outcomes of public policies, laws, legislative acts, plans, programs, and projects related to the Amazon, including those of an international nature. In addition, it must promote dialogue among Congress, the national government, local and regional authorities, indigenous peoples, local and rural communities, academia, social organizations, churches and faith-based communities, the private sector, and international cooperation agencies.
Another mandate established in the resolution is the holding of public hearings, decentralized sessions, and academic and territorial forums, with the aim of incorporating diverse voices and perspectives into the Commission’s discussions. The resolution also provides for the strengthening of parliamentary diplomacy and inter-institutional cooperation, as well as technical and legislative exchanges with other countries and parliaments working to protect the Amazon.
The decision also includes the development of recommendations and technical documents for the Chamber’s Board of Directors and other authorities involved in this matter. Furthermore, the Commission must collaboratively draft a bill to create a Legal Commission for the Amazon, which would function as a permanent body of Congress responsible for legislative oversight and political control over matters related to the Colombian Amazon.
A Process That Began in the Field
The initiative to create this commission arose as a result of the dialogue that took place during the IRI-Colombia Amazon Scientific Immersion Workshop, held last June in San José del Guaviare.
The meeting brought together members of the House of Representatives and senators with academics and researchers, religious leaders, and local representatives, with the aim of fostering a dialogue between scientific knowledge and the knowledge developed within the regions, connecting decision-makers in Congress with researchers, communities, and local stakeholders who have firsthand experience with the changes taking place in the Amazon.
The Commission will be composed of 15 members of the House of Representatives, including Miguel Ángel Rubio Bravo and Jhon Fredy Valencia Encina, who have been appointed as coordinators.
With its creation, the protection of the Amazon now has a dedicated forum within the House of Representatives to address the region’s challenges through legislation, political oversight, territorial dialogue, and national and international cooperation.
For IRI-Colombia, this step opens up a new opportunity to bring Congress closer to the Amazonian territories and help ensure that decisions regarding the region incorporate both scientific evidence and the knowledge and experiences of those who live in and protect the Amazon.
