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1.¡Reflexionemos! Flashcards about intresting  Colombia Biodiversity facts. Click on the image to (watch the flashcard)

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some amazing facts about colombia biodiversity! flashcards

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Some amazing facts about Colombia Biodiversity! Flashcards by ProProfs

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Study Some amazing facts about Colombia Biodiversity! Flashcards at ProProfs - Hi !those are some flshacard related to some intresting issues about colombia biodiversity

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2 ¡Reflexionemos! Write your coments and your answers about the questions showed in the flashcards. 

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2 ¡Reflexionemos! Write your coments and your answers about the questions showed in the flashcards. 

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(click on the image to answer the questions from the flashcards)

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Let`s Comment our opinion about the flahscards!

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3. ¡Aprendamos!  here you can find general information About Colombia facts. 

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3. ¡Aprendamos!  here you can find general information About Colombia facts. 

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(read it and take notes)

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4. ¡Aprendamos! Link to read issues about  natural resourses and biodiversity in colombia

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4. ¡Aprendamos! Link to read issues about  natural resourses and biodiversity in colombia

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(read it and take notes)

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COLOMBIA

Colombia Forest Figures

Forest Cover Total forest area: 60,728,000 ha
% of land area: 58.5%

Primary forest cover: 53,062,000 ha
% of land area: 51.1%
% total forest area: 87.4%

Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005 Annual change in forest cover: -47,000 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -0.1%
Change in defor. rate since '90s: -0.5%
Total forest loss since 1990: -711,000 ha
Total forest loss since 1990:-1.2%

Primary or "Old-growth" forests
Annual loss of primary forests: -56200 ha
Annual deforestation rate: -0.1%
Change in deforestation rate since '90s: 11.0%
Primary forest loss since 1990: -281,000 ha
Primary forest loss since 1990:-1.5%

Forest Classification Public: n/a
Private: n/a
Other: n/a
Use
Production: 12.7%
Protection: 1%
Conservation: 14.1%
Social services: 0%
Multiple purpose: n/a
None or unknown: 72.2

Forest Area Breakdown Total area: 60,728,000 ha
Primary: 53,062,000 ha
Modified natural: 7,337,000 ha
Semi-natural: n/a
Production plantation: 312,000 ha
Production plantation: 16,000 ha

Plantations Plantations, 2005: 328,000 ha
% of total forest cover: 0.5%
Annual change rate (00-05): 14,880,000 ha

Carbon storage Above-ground biomass: 11,945 M t
Below-ground biomass: 4,180 M t

Area annually affected by Fire: 23,000 ha
Insects: n/a
Diseases: n/a

Number of tree species in IUCN red list Number of native tree species: 5,000
Critically endangered: 31
Endangered: 50
Vulnerable: 108

Wood removal 2005 Industrial roundwood: 3,246,000 m ³ o.b.
Wood fuel: 7,029,000 m ³ o.b.

Value of forest products, 2005 Industrial roundwood: n/a
Wood fuel: n/a
Non-wood forest products (NWFPs): n/a
Total Value: n/a

More forest statistics for Colombia

Despite its relatively small size, Colombia is the second most biologically diverse country on Earth, home to about 10 percent of the world's species. This biodiversity results from Colombia's varied ecosystems-from the rich tropical rainforest to the coastal cloud forests to the open savannas. More than 1,821 species of birds, 623 species of amphibians, 467 species of mammals, 518 species of reptiles, and 3,200 species of fish reside in Colombia. About 18 percent of these are endemic to the country. Colombia has a mind-boggling 51,220 species of plants, of which nearly 30 percent are endemic. While on paper nearly 10 percent of Colombia is under some form of protection, its rich biodiversity is increasingly threatened.

Each year Colombia loses nearly 200,000 hectares of natural forest, according to figures released by the United Nations in 2003-though the true figure may be higher since an estimated 100,000 hectares of native forest are illegally cleared every year. The vast majority of this loss is primary forest, which covers more than 80 percent of the country. Deforestation in Colombia results primarily from small-scale agricultural activities, logging, mining, energy development, infrastructure construction, large-scale agriculture, and the cocaine trade. Animal collection and pollution are also environmental issues in the country.

Colombia's Pacific Coast rainforests are rapidly disappearing due to gold mining and palm-oil plantations. By one estimate, in the mid-1990s, industrial gold mining alone cleared 80,000 hectares of forest per year, while contaminating local rivers with mercury and siltation. Coca production is also expanding in this region (see below)

The coca trade

In the highlands, the ongoing battle over coca cultivation has had a significant impact on forest cover. Colombia is a leading producer of coca, the plant that provides the main ingredient of cocaine. Much of Colombia's coca is grown by poor farmers because it generates more income than any other crop. Typically farmers convert the plant into coca paste and sell it to groups-including paramilitaries and Colombian rebels-who refine it into cocaine and export it to markets like the United States, which is the world's largest consumer of the narcotic.

Drug eradication efforts have focused on aerial fumigation programs where herbicides (a mixture that includes Monsanto Corporation's Roundup and Cosmo-Flux 411F) are dropped by crop-duster planes on suspect vegetation. Since the concoction is a non-selective herbicide, surrounding vegetation-including subsistence crops and native plants-are killed as well. Local reports suggest that farmers often replant coca seedlings soon after spraying, making the whole exercise somewhat futile.

Aerial spraying may also be causing coca cultivation to shift to new regions. In March 2005, the Associated Press reported that large-scale coca production was moving into the extensive rainforests of the Choc- state, a biodiversity hotspot in northwest Colombia. Poor farmers are clearing forest to plant coca seedlings while hunting local wildlife for food.

The ecological impacts of coca production are significant as well. Each acre requires clearing of roughly four acres of forest while the dumping of chemicals used to process coca leaves (including kerosene, sulfuric acid, acetone, and carbide) pollutes local waterways.

Additionally, critics of U.S. efforts in Colombia note that the eradication program has done little to slow the supply of cocaine that enters the United States. Despite increased worldwide demand, prices of cocaine have been steadily dropping over the years on American streets, indicating that availability of the drug has not diminished.

A 2005 report from the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy shows that a massive U.S.-backed aerial spraying offensive last year failed to reduce the area of coca under cultivation in Colombia. Figures show that 281,694 acres of coca remained in Colombia at the end of 2004, an increase from the 281,323 acres remaining after 2003's campaign. Despite billions of dollars in eradication spending, the amount of land under cultivation for coca has more than doubled since the mid-1990s: in 1996 there were 69,100 hectares of the crop, while in 1995, 51,400 hectares of coca were growing.

Wildlife trafficking

Drugs are not the only thing trafficked from the forests of Colombia. Endangered wildlife-especially rare birds and reptiles-are smuggled to markets in the United States and Europe. The government estimates that in 1997 more than seven million animals worth $40 million were illegally exported from Colombia.

Logs, too, are an illicit trade in the country-illegal logging is widespread. Forestry enforcement is a low priority given the violence and disarray in much of Colombia.

Energy

Colombia has oil and gas deposits but ongoing instability has somewhat limited potential development. Attacks on oil pipelines and installations by guerrillas in Eastern Colombia have resulted in oil spills and pollution.

When peace returns to Colombia, the country could be well-served to emphasis its biological diversity as a draw for eco-tourists; however, it seems likely that stability will bring further exploitation of the country's forest resources.

Pictures of Colombia

Recent articles | Colombia news updates | XML

Suggested reading - Books
Unless otherwise specified, this article was written byRhett A. Butler [Bibliographic citation for this page]

Other resources

Contact me if you have suggestions on other rainforest-related environmental sites and resources for this country.

Image copyright Google Earth, MDA EarthSet, DigitalGlobe 2005

CIA-World Factbook Profile
FAO-Forestry Profile

Last updated: 6 Feb 2006

© Mongabay 1995-2020

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COLOMBIA Colombia Forest Figures Forest Cover Total forest area: 60,728,000 ha % of land area: 58.5% Primary forest cover: 53,062,000 ha % of land area: 51.1% % total forest area: 87.4% Deforestation Rates, 2000-2005 Annual change in forest cover: -47,000 ha Annual deforestation rate: -0.1% Change in defor.

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5. !Aprendamos! Link related to some examples of colombia biodiversity.

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5. !Aprendamos! Link related to some examples of colombia biodiversity.

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(Watch it and take notes)

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In the first post, "Two Nifty Nature Facts," I told you about the highest coastal mountain in the world, the Sierra Nevada, as well as the amazing emerald production in Colombia -the highest level of emerald production in the world. In today's post, I am going to tell you about two more interesting nature facts about Colombia. Are you ready to be amazed?

Colombian caterpillar

1. Colombia has the highest level of biodiversity per square meter in the world!¹

There is much debate about which country has the overall highest level of biodiversity in the world, but most tend to agree that per square meter, Colombia has the highest level. What does this mean? It means that Colombia has an extraordinarily high level of diversity in its flora and fauna.

Perhaps the most outstanding diversity in regards to fauna is found in the number of bird species found in Colombia. Colombia is home to 1,897 different species of birds-having more than any other country in the world. ² This makes Colombia a true bird watchers' paradise! You can see everything from quetzals to wrens to parrots and herons.

Parrot on the Caribbean Coast

In addition, Colombia has approximately 467 species of mammals, 609 species of amphibians, 475 species of reptiles, and 35,000 species of vascular plants! ³ Some of the most unique mammals you can find in Colombia include the extremely rare mountain tapirs as well as lowland tapirs, giant anteaters, the capybara ( the largest rodent in the world), Amazonian manatees, pink dolphins, three toed sloths, agoutis, and titi monkeys, among MANY others. As far as amphibians and reptiles go, Colombian is home to rainbow boas, pygmy coral snakes, anacondas, harlequin frogs, glass frogs, and five species of sea turtles to name a few.

Capybaras

The diversity of plants in Colombia, as previously mentioned, is also pretty incredible. Colombia hosts around 4,000 species of orchids ⁴ (the national flower of Colombia), several species of palm trees, and the highest number of heliconia species in the world. Flowers, like birds, are everywhere in Colombia. No matter where you go, you will encounter beautiful flora. In fact, the flowers in Colombia are so beautiful and bountiful that good deals of them are exported to other countries for use in floral arrangements.
2. Colombia is the only South American country with access to both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans.
Heliconia plant

While all South American countries, except Bolivia and Paraguay, have a coastline, Colombia is the only country to have two coastlines, one on each ocean (Pacific and Atlantic).
Out of the 32 departments that make up Colombia, four border the Pacific Ocean (Nariño, Chocò, Cauca, and Valle de Cauca), while eight departments have coastlines on the Atlantic Ocean (la Guajira, Magdalena, Atlántico, Sucre, Antioquía, Córdoba, and Chocó). And, if you noticed, only one department, Chocó, happens to border with both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans! This makes Chocó an incredibly unique department, because it is the only one on the entire South American continent that borders both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.

Palomino-Atlantic Coast of Colombia

The fact that Chocó has coastlines on both the Pacific and Atlantic Oceans means this Colombian department is host to a plethora of varied and extremely unique ecosystems. One specific area of Chocó with several exceptional ecosystems is the area known as the Darién Gap. Some areas of the Darién Gap have been named "biodiversity hotspots" due to the flora and fauna found there, and the ecosystems contained in the Darién Gap have been described as some of the richest and most complete ecosystems in all of Latin America ⁵.

Thanks for checking in and until next time,
References:
Paige M. Poole

About the author:

"Paige M. Poole is an Alabamian and traveler at heart who has settled, for now, in Barranquilla, Colombia, and earns her living as an English professor at the Instituto de Idiomas (Language Institute) at la Universidad del Norte (University of the North). When not teaching English, she enjoys blogging, traveling, relaxing on the beach, and spending time with her partner and two cats, Milo and Sophie. You can see more of Paige's traveling experiences in her personal blog www.trotamunda.wordpress.com

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Two MORE Nifty Nature Facts about Colombia

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In the first post, "Two Nifty Nature Facts," I told you about the highest coastal mountain in the world, the Sierra Nevada, as well as the amazing emerald production in Colombia -the highest level of emerald production in the world. In today's post, I am going to tell you about two more interesting nature facts about Colombia.

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6. ¡Aprendamos! Video about biodiversity in colombia.

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6. ¡Aprendamos! Video about biodiversity in colombia.

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(watch it and take notes)

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8. ¡Aprendamos! Video about Colombia biodiversity.

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8. ¡Aprendamos! Video about Colombia biodiversity.

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(watch it and takes notes)

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10.  ¡Construyamos! Evernote app to take notes about the previous videos and readings.

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10.  ¡Construyamos! Evernote app to take notes about the previous videos and readings.

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(use it to write ideas about the readings and links!

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Evernote uses cookies to enable the Evernote service and to improve your experience with us. To learn more, check out our cookie policy.
By clicking OK or continuing to use our site, you agree that we can place these cookies.

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La mejor aplicación para tomar notas; organiza tus notas con Evernote

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Nuestra aplicación para tomar notas te ayuda a capturar y establecer la prioridad de las ideas, proyectos y listas de tareas pendientes, para que nada se te pase por alto. Inicia tu prueba gratuita hoy.

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9. ¡Construyamos! Video about how to use evernote.

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(watch it to learn about evernote app in cas you neede it)

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Cómo usar Evernote - Tutorial - Inteligencia Pop Presenta

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7. ¡Aprendamos! Video related to natural resources of colombia.

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7. ¡Aprendamos! Video related to natural resources of colombia.

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(watch it and take notes

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This is the last part of this class, here, you must complete the quiz taking into account all the readings videos and your ideas cosntruted previously.

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Lets see what do you know about Colombia biodiversity!!

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Chose the option that answer best the question

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11. ¡Construyamos! Canva Poster example desing for you create your.

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11. ¡Construyamos! Canva Poster example desing for you create your.

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(diseño hecho por la profe, para que te guies al momento de hacer el tuyo.

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Create beautiful designs with your team. Use Canva's drag-and-drop feature and layouts to design, share and print business cards, logos, presentations and more.

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12. ¡Construyamos! Video about how to use canva in padlet.

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Make a poster showing the elemets about colombia biodiversity and how those affects aour identity. Take into aaccount use of grammar, puntuaction, spelling, coherence.

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