Colombia's 50+ year armed conflict with the FARC, the country's largest and oldest left-wing insurgent group, may be coming to a close.

For the majority of Colombians, and for those who have worked on human rights in Colombia, the conflict that has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions can't end soon enough.

[But] we should also be prepared for a dark side of peace. Some of Colombia's natural riches have been off-limits to industrial scale exploitation due to the war. In removing the risk of kidnapping, extortion, and attacks on infrastructure, investment will potentially explode through the far reaches of the country, bringing megaprojects like mining, dams, and roads. This, in turn, could result in a great increase in environmental impacts and conflicts with local communities who have their rights trampled.

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