World Water Day: a time to talk about the friar, a species in danger of disappearing in Colombia

The frailejones in Colombia require special care, not only because their existence is key to the maintenance of the paramo ecosystems, but because there are currently more than 139 species, according to the Humboldt Institute.

But in addition to being special, such care must be constant: although these plants have become widely mentioned thanks to Frailejón Ernesto Pérez and his advice for the care and saving of water (which is precisely produced in the wastelands), it also becomes necessary to make an emergency call because of the risk that the wastelands are taking taking into account two fundamental factors: climate change and environmental licensing.

It is worth mentioning that Colombia is one of the countries with the greatest variety of friars in the world, which are located, mainly, in the eastern mountain range, with 80% of the total recorded species, and in that order, zealous care by social organizations and government entities becomes urgent in order to that none of the two problems mentioned above affect existing species.

Climate change:

Between 2018 and 2022, several researchers from Colombia and the United Kingdom, attached to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation and the UK Council for Natural Environment Research, toured departments such as Santander, Boyacá and Cundinamarca in order to take stock of several specimens that benefit wasteland ecosystems. The conclusion was not encouraging.

It may interest you: World Water Day 2022: what is the truth of liquid in Colombia

This Tuesday, the findings of those investigations were announced, showing that frailejones, like thistles and succulents, are at risk of disappearing, especially for two reasons associated with weather changes: the first has to do with alterations between the relations of species that inhabit the same environment. In addition to that, the addition of human species for agricultural development in protected areas where the frailejones are, put biodiversity at risk.

The other reason is that niches where species used to inhabit have been lost, affecting the space of those that capture water. Now, there is a third factor that is associated with species that are growing in these ecosystems, but that, even so, could have impacts on biodiversity in the medium term.

The bid for environmental licenses in paramos

precisely, on March 22, it became known that the Santander Mining Company (Minesa) sold 20% of the Soto Norte project to the Canadian multinational Aris Gold.

It is worth mentioning that this project is located in the vicinity of the Santurbán moor (Santander). According to a statement issued by Aris Gold, which owns the Marmato mine in the department of Caldas, “the Soto Norte gold project is one of the largest feasibility stage projects in the world with significant mineral reserves and low operating costs.”

It may interest you: Suspended the local mayor of Usme for the alleged corruption case involving her administration

Faced with this fact, many of the communities near Santurbán and environmental defenders issued a warning signal, because according to them, the Soto Norte project generates a risk not only in the wasteland but also in surrounding ecosystems.

On this, community leader Oscar Estupiñán said that “without water, Bucaramanga has no future and cannot develop. That is why, as users of the aqueduct, we call you to be vigilant because Santurbán is still at risk. Minesa and its megaproject remain firm” through its Twitter account.

KEEP READING