Search

Search

Colombia and Ecuador are striving to preserve crucial wetlands, which are under threat due to ongoing drought

Rural communities in the Andes of Colombia and Ecuador are fighting to protect fragile high-altitude wetlands, known as paramos, that regulate the region’s water cycles. Both nations have been hit hard by severe droughts caused by a strong El Niño, which has been worsened by climate change and harmful human activities. Colombia and Ecuador, which rely heavily on hydroelectric power, are facing sharp water and energy shortages due to these droughts.

Grassroots activists, along with international organizations like Conservation International, are working to restore native plant species in the paramos to help preserve water. Most of the world's paramos, which slowly absorb and release rainwater to regulate the water cycle, are located in the Andes across Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

Patricia Bejarano, director of Conservation International's sustainable high mountain landscapes program in Colombia, highlighted that deforestation in the Amazon and soil degradation caused by climate change have altered water dynamics. This crisis is especially concerning as Colombia prepares to host the United Nations' biodiversity conference in Cali in late October.

Efforts to conserve the paramos are critical for ensuring water supply, protecting agriculture, and mitigating the effects of climate change. In Bogotá, Colombia's capital, drought has led to water rationing, while Ecuador has experienced power cuts as dams struggle with reduced water levels. Colombia has also suspended electricity exports to Ecuador to protect its own energy reserves.

In Quito, 13 members of El Tablon, a rural community, are working to restore native paper trees, a species of polylepis, in the Paluguillo paramo. These trees are essential for capturing and storing water, slowly releasing it back into the soil during dry periods. The community has planted 40,000 trees so far, with plans to grow 100,000 more. "It's a water factory," said Diana Sopalo, who has worked for four years in a nursery set up by the Nature Conservancy.

The water from the paramos is vital for Quito, as it feeds into the city's water supply. FONAG, the organization protecting the area, employs 26 rangers to monitor and safeguard the wetlands. In Ecuador, the paramos' conservation is seen as key to maintaining water supplies, explained Galo Medina of The Nature Conservancy.

In Colombia's Guatavita, local activists and authorities are working to expand and protect the Chingaza paramo, home to species like frailejones, known for their water conservation abilities. This protected area, previously used for cattle farming, has been recovering since 2018, with fragile ecosystems slowly being restored. "As we restore this ecosystem, it brings great potential for water, flora, and fauna, but it remains vulnerable to climate change," said Doris Ramos, who oversees environmental efforts for Guatavita's mayor's office.