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Introduction to Research Topic 1:

Introduction to Research Topic 1:. Ecosystems in Páramos M.Sc. Camilo Lesmes. What is a Paramo?. >50% of Paramos are in Colombia World Biggest Paramo : Sumapaz Countries with natural Paramos : Venezuela and Colombia. Páramo in Colombia. Páramo Climatology.

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Introduction to Research Topic 1:

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  1. Introduction to Research Topic 1: Ecosystems in Páramos M.Sc. Camilo Lesmes

  2. What is a Paramo?

  3. >50% of Paramos are in Colombia • World Biggest Paramo: Sumapaz • Countries with natural Paramos: Venezuela and Colombia • Páramo in Colombia

  4. Páramo Climatology • “Summereveryday, wintereverynight” • Temperature: 17ºC to -8 ºC • Temperaturedecreases 0,6ºC / 100 m • Precipitation: 700 to 6000 mm • Humidity: >90% • UV Index: Very high • Atmospheric pressure: low

  5. Importance of the Páramo • Water: • Continuos provision: 1400 mm (66,5 km³ / year • Bogotá consumption: 27 m³ / second • Soils: • Storage of carbon • High content of organic matter (100 gr /kg) • 40% of C in wet locations • Soils up to 3 m depth • Biodiversity: • 5.000 plant species (60% endemic) • 120 mammals • 87 amphibians • 11 reptiles • 154 birds

  6. Environmental Problems • EconomicalActivities: • 10% of soils are usedforpotatocrops • Burnings • Livestock grazing • Tourism: • Improve local economicdevelopment • Intensification can interferewiththeecosystems

  7. Potential Risks Related to • Climate Change • Shifts in: • Ecosystemboundaries • Agriculturalborders • Soilhydraulicproperties • Consequences: • Biodiversityisaffected • Lessproduction of water • Releasing of CO2

  8. Research Questions • Reviewing the available information about paramos: • Which could be an appropiate approach for land use management that includes the protection of natural resources and improvement of the social and economic situations of the local communities? • What can be the role of the government, local authorities and communities, in the improvement of the protection of the paramos? • What are the important issues that should be considered by the scientific community in order to understand the changes in the paramo ecosystems because of the climate change?

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