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

2. / 2 What is a Paramo? Neotropical Ecosystem Altitude: 3.800 to 5.000 m Landscape: Lakes, Peat Bogs, Wet Grasslands World Area 35.000 to 77.000 km ² Countries Andean Region: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru Central America: Costa Rica, Guatemala y Panama Others: Africa and Asia

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

4. / 4 Páramo Climatology “Summer every day, winter every night” Temperature: 17ºC to -8 ºC Temperature decreases 0,6ºC / 100 m Precipitation: 700 to 6000 mm Humidity: >90% UV Index: Very high Atmospheric pressure: low

5. / 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. / 6 Environmental Problems Economical Activities: 10% of soils are used for potato crops Burnings Livestock grazing Tourism: Improve local economic development Intensification can interfere with the ecosystems

7. / 7 Potential Risks Related to Climate Change Shifts in: Ecosystem boundaries Agricultural borders Soil hydraulic properties Consequences: Biodiversity is affected Less production of water Releasing of CO 2

8. / 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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