The Ministry of Environment was the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia

Government of Colombia

The government of Colombiais a republic with separation of powers into executive, judicial and legislative branches.Its legislature has a congress,its judiciary has a supreme court, andits executive branch has a president....

 charged with determining and regulating the standards and guidelines for the protection of the environment, investigate and implement environmental policies

Environmental policy

Environmental policy is any [course of] action deliberately taken [or not taken] to manage human activities with a view to prevent, reduce, or mitigate harmful effects on nature and natural resources, and ensuring that man-made changes to the environment do not have harmful effects on...

. As part of a wider cabinet reshuffle in 2002, the ministry was given the housing

Housing authority

A housing authority or ministry of housing is generally a governmental body that governs some aspect of the territory's housing, often providing low rent or free apartments to qualified residents.-Specific housing authorities:...

 and land management

Land management

Land management is the process of managing the use and development of land resources. Land resources are used for a variety of purposes which may include organic agriculture, reforestation, water resource management and eco-tourism projects.-See also:*Sustainable land management*Acreage...

 portfolios, becoming the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development

Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development

The Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development , is the national executive ministry of the Government of Colombia charged with determining and regulating the standards and guidelines for the protection of the environment, the improvement and availability of potable water, and the...

.

As of 2010, President Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos

Juan Manuel Santos Calderón is a Colombian politician who has been the President of Colombia since 7 August 2010. He previously served as Minister of Foreign Trade, Minister of Finance, and Minister of National Defense.-Career:...

 talked about the need to separate the Ministry again to once again bring environmental protection and sustainability in par with the needs of the nation and its importance to government.

Ministers

Order	Period	Ministers of Environment
1st	1994-1994	Manuel Rodríguez Becerra
2nd	1994–1995	Cecilia López Montaño Cecilia López Montaño Cecilia Matilde López Montaño has been in public service in Colombia for over twenty years thanks to a solid professional background. Senator López is a well-known economist and Colombian politician. She has always been an active member of the Liberal Party and as such, has been appointed to...
3rd	1995–1997	José Vicente Mogollón
4th	1997–1998	Eduardo Verano de la Rosa Eduardo Verano De la Rosa Eduardo Ignacio Verano de la Rosa is a Colombian politician, businessman, and active member of the Colombian Liberal Party. On October 28, 2007 Verano was elected Governor of Atlántico Department.-Early years and education:...
5th	1998–2002	Juan Mayr Maldonado
6th	2002–2003	Cecilia Rodríguez González-Rubio