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Status and Trends of Biodiversity

Overview

Colombia is listed as one of the world’s “megadiverse” countries, hosting close to 14% of the planet’s biodiversity. Colombia possesses a rich complexity of ecological, climatic, biological and ecosystem components. The country counts 35,000 vascular plants, 467 mammal species, 1,768 bird species, 609 amphibian species and 475 reptile species. Colombia was ranked as one of the world’s richest countries in aquatic resources, which is partly explained by the fact that the country’s large watersheds feed into the four massive sub-continental basins of the Amazon, Orinoquía, Magdalena and Cauca.

The largest source of biological diversity is found in the Andean ecosystem, characterized by a significant variety of endemic species, followed by the Amazon rainforest and the sub-humid ecosystem in Choćo biogeographical area. This varied richness presents Colombia with a unique opportunity for the implementation of sustainable development initiatives. However, a considerable part of these natural ecosystems have been transformed for agriculture, primarily in the Andean and Caribbean regions. It has been estimated that almost 95% of the country’s dry forests have been reduced from their original cover, including close to a 70% of typically Andean forests. Some of the main threats to the conservation of biological diversity include population migrations due to internal conflict, agricultural development, habitat degradation, increased presence of invasive species and general pollution dynamics.

Number and Extent of Protected Areas

Colombia, with the establishment of the National Nature Parks System has consolidated the conservation of more than 10 million acres, corresponding to 10% of the national territory. All ecosystems are represented within this protected area network, where dry forests and savannahs are the least abundant.

Percentage of Forest Cover

The primary terrestrial biomes in Colombia have undergone several changes. The areas covered by each type of biome are distributed as follows: 378,000 ha humid tropical forest, 1,200 ha of dry and sub-humid tropical forest, 9,500 ha desert and thicket, 45,000 ha Andean forest, 14,000 ha Amazonian savannahs, 1,000 ha Caribbean savannahs, and 3,300 ha of mangrove forests.

National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan

Major features of National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan

The National Biodiversity Policy looks to manage biodiversity resources considering them as a key element for the present and future sustainable development of Colombia. Biological diversity is made up of tangible components such as molecules, genes and species populations and communities, grasping entire ecosystems and landscape scenarios. It also includes non-tangible components such as associated knowledge, innovations and practices of traditional and non-traditional origin. Biodiversity encompasses a dynamic nature in time and space that demands the conservation of its components as well as its evolutionary processes. The benefits derived from the use of its resources must be distributed in a fair and equitable manner through agreements that involve the active participation of all communities affected by such, considering that it is fundamental on account of the environmental services comprised in its resources.
 

• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan on national website (Spanish)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (Spanish)
• National Biodiversity Strategy Action Plan (Spanish)

Implementation of the Convention

Measures Taken to Achieve the 2010 Target

Colombia has incorporated the millennium development goals into various plans, programmes and strategies. One of the main goals established by regional environmental authorities is to reinstate organic agriculture systems. For example, the Triennial Action Plan 2004-2006 of the Valle del Cauca Environmental regional Authority has set as goals: the reversion towards organic agriculture on at least 100 ha; the operation of agro-ecological models on 210 ha of agricultural areas; and the establishment and operation of agro-ecological plantations on 64 ha. Over the next 5 years, the National Government, with the support of the Alexander Von Humboldt Research Institute for Biological Resource, hopes to accomplish the following objectives: creation of a technical basis for the establishment of an inventory of the use biodiversity resources to serve as a tool for decision-making; development of a minimum of three pilot areas for the resolution of conflicts arising from the distribution of environmental resources; and further develop guidelines for strategic environmental evaluations and industrial environmental assessments. Other objectives include: implement management plans for close to 500,000 ha of continental waters; territorial definition of three forest reserves; and formulation and implementation of 42 management plans for National Protected Forest Reserves.

Initiatives in Protected Areas

The National Development Plan proposed as one of its objectives the consolidation of a National Network of Protected Areas, which is to be implemented through six regional strategies. Some of the more specific goals of this strategy include: creation of 2 new protected areas within the National Natural Park System (NNPS); formulation of 14 management plans for areas already established within the NNPS; development of a system of georeferenced information for 12 protected areas; coordination of a National Environmental Policy for the sustainable use of marine resources as well as coastal and island ecosystems; and formulation and establishment of a National Plan of Action for Combating Desertification and an Ecosystem Management Plan for Arid Areas of Colombia. Various initiatives are already in place or completed, including the addition of 996,741 ha of new territories in the NNPS and the declaration of 4 marine or island-based protected areas within the NNPS, equivalent to an extension of 221,653 ha. There are several local, regional and national processes underway looking for the consolidation of an efficient protected area network that includes multiple stakeholders having an interest in defining the conservation objectives of the ecosystems considered in these areas.

Initiatives for Article 8(j)

The first major project was the implementation of a project dealing with capacity building and information processes for the effective implementation of Article 8(j) pertaining to the protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices. This initiative was coordinated by the Office of International Affairs of the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. The project created an opportunity for the representatives of the country’s local, traditional and indigenous communities (Raizales, Rom people, indigenous organizations and Afro Colombian communities) to participate and exchange ideas on the guidelines necessary for the creation of a sui generis system for the protection of traditional knowledge, innovations and practices. Five ethnic workshops were carried out, which gathered over 200 local leaders. These workshops provided a forum that allowed local communities to discuss the problems related to the protection of traditional knowledge, as well as possible solutions. The Humboldt Institute carried out a preliminary study on the main systems that are viable for the protection of traditional knowledge and practices and their impact on biodiversity conservation. Such a study also evaluated the national legislative structure currently available for the protection of traditional knowledge. At present the Institute is working on capacity building materials and initiatives aimed at ethnic groups that will encourage the understanding of this issue.