(picture from www.euro-map.org/south-america/colombia-map.htm)
Colombia is a country of contrasts. From snowy white peaks to brilliant coral reefs, Colombia has an extraordinary array of biological diversity, climates, cultures and people. Roughly 10% of all the Earth’s living species are found here, and Colombia ranks number one in the world in terms of bird, amphibian and butterfly species. More than 90 different indigenous communities live in Colombia from Wayuu people who live in the desert of La Guajira to the Cofán Pueblo in the foothills of Amazonia.
Colombia’s biological diversity is due to its privileged geographical position. The country is located in northern South America and is the only South American country with shores on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The Andes mountain range runs north to south and divides the country into several regions: the tropical Andes, Caribbean, Llanos grasslands, and Amazonia. Each region has particular characteristics that have allowed for the proliferation of unique species that are found nowhere else on Earth. The Conservancy and its partners have projects in each region that help to ensure the effective conservation of Colombia’s amazing biological richness.
The Conservancy collaborates closely with numerous entities that include governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, research institutes and multilateral agencies to support strategies such as the creation of new public protected areas, strengthening of conservation in private lands, establishment of alliances with indigenous communities and community groups, and the integration of biodiversity conservation into national and local development policies and regulations. One recent accomplishment was the creation of a Debt for Nature Swap to re-direct $10 million of Colombian debt towards protected area conservation.
Colombia’s biological diversity is due to its privileged geographical position. The country is located in northern South America and is the only South American country with shores on both the Caribbean Sea and Pacific Ocean. The Andes mountain range runs north to south and divides the country into several regions: the tropical Andes, Caribbean, Llanos grasslands, and Amazonia. Each region has particular characteristics that have allowed for the proliferation of unique species that are found nowhere else on Earth. The Conservancy and its partners have projects in each region that help to ensure the effective conservation of Colombia’s amazing biological richness.
The Conservancy collaborates closely with numerous entities that include governmental agencies, non-profit organizations, research institutes and multilateral agencies to support strategies such as the creation of new public protected areas, strengthening of conservation in private lands, establishment of alliances with indigenous communities and community groups, and the integration of biodiversity conservation into national and local development policies and regulations. One recent accomplishment was the creation of a Debt for Nature Swap to re-direct $10 million of Colombian debt towards protected area conservation.
Did you know?
• Colombia has more vertebrate species than any other country on Earth. Colombia is estimated to have more than 3,300 vertebrate species. • Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is the tallest coastal mountain in the world. There are just 26 km from its snowy peaks to the Caribbean Sea • Colombia has more than 1,762 bird species that represent around 19% of all birds on Earth. • The country has five major habitat types in its territory: moist tropical forests, dry tropical forests, tropical grasslands, mountain grasslands and deserts and scrublands.
(information from www.nature.org)
2 comments:
Great post Lorna,
It was very informative. I appreciated it especially because I am from Colombian descent but I have never visited, therefore I do not know too much about the country.
Teressa
Exelent work on endangered species of Colombia
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