Colombia and Ecuador Mobilize to Protect Paramos

In Colombia and Ecuador, communities are actively working to protect and restore critical high-altitude wetlands known as paramos, which are essential for stabilizing water cycles and combating climate change. The severe water and energy rationing resulting from a strong El Nino weather pattern has intensified efforts to safeguard these ecosystems, vital for hydroelectric energy production. Grassroots activists, supported by organizations like Conservation International, focus on restoring native species that enhance water retention. Concurrently, a team of Colombian scientists is launching a project to preserve peatlands, crucial for carbon sequestration and water regulation, in the Almorzadero Paramo. Both regions highlight the interconnectedness of ecological preservation, community engagement, and sustainable economic development through eco-tourism and biodiversity conservation initiatives. These efforts are critical as Colombia prepares to host a UN conference on biodiversity, emphasizing the urgent need to address environmental challenges.