At more than 11,000 feet above sea level, very important
ecosystems known as páramos exist. These kinds of ecosystems are
only found in Central and South America and resemble a sort of
alpine archipelago, each a link between distinct island
ecosystems that exist nowhere else on the planet. These páramos
play a crucial role in maintaining a reliable water supply for
millions of people in Bogotá and Medellín. And along with the
forests below, they also protect the cities from flooding.
Colombia’s second rainy season of the year began in September.
Some parts of the country have had little respite from the
deluge. Scientists believe that climate change is a factor in
the flooding, and it has affected three quarters of Colombia in
the past two years. The degradation of the high Andean
ecosystems is accelerating and there are growing concerns that
the floods will become a chronic problem. Páramos and cloud
forests are a part of the ecological engineering that manages
the flow of water from the high mountains to th