has been affected by illegal crops that have been set up in the area, which have led to the destruction of native forests and important ecological areas, such as natural parks. The indiscriminate use of wild bushes, secondary forests and riparian forests to set up commercial crops of produce, such as African palm, yucca, and sugar cane, has also resulted in the displacement of wildlife species towards areas were little food and water are available. These factors have favored the poaching and capture of wildlife with the purpose of smuggling them.19 The department of Meta currently has six plant species and 13 animal species in the 'critically endangered' list, out of which only eight have been included in conservation plans.20 WATER RESOURCES The department of Meta is very rich in water resources; however, these are neither rationally nor appropriately used. Water usage in the department has decimated water sources and rendered them vulnerable to pollution. Per IGAC's "Regional diagnosis for the department of Meta" (Diagnóstico Territorial para el Departamento del Meta),21 the department's water supply has been affected both regarding quality and quantity, due to several factors. These factors include: A progressive loss of the forest cover due to the indiscriminate felling and burning of forests in spring areas and buffer zones; Altering the course of several rivers; Poor soil management in the basins, especially in high and middle basin areas; Communities and the productive sector's inappropriate use and management of water; and Wastewater contamination. As for swamps and groundwater, problems mainly regard the degradation and loss of these ecosystems because of human settlements, productive agroindustry and new urban developments within their catchment areas and buffer zones.22 Corporación para el desarrollo sostenible del área de manejo especial la macarena (2010). Plan de gestión 19 ambiental regional (2010-2016). CORPOMACARENA, Villavicencio. Information provided by CORMACARENA in response to the right to petition invoked by LRDP in the claim 20 filed on March 3rd, 2017. Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (2004). El Meta: un territorio de oportunidades. Gobernación del 21 Meta - IGAC. Information provided by CORMACARENA in response to the right to petition invoked by LRDP in the claim 22 filed on March 3rd, 2017.
has been affected by illegal crops that have been set up in the area, which have led to the destruction of native forests and important ecological areas, such as natural parks. The indiscriminate use of wild bushes, secondary forests and riparian forests to set up commercial crops of produce, such as African palm, yucca, and sugar cane, has also resulted in the displacement of wildlife species towards areas were little food and water are available. These factors have favored the poaching and capture of wildlife with the purpose of smuggling them.19 The department of Meta currently has six plant species and 13 animal species in the 'critically endangered' list, out of which only eight have been included in conservation plans.20 WATER RESOURCES The department of Meta is very rich in water resources; however, these are neither rationally nor appropriately used. Water usage in the department has decimated water sources and rendered them vulnerable to pollution. Per IGAC's "Regional diagnosis for the department of Meta" (Diagnóstico Territorial para el Departamento del Meta),21 the department's water supply has been affected both regarding quality and quantity, due to several factors. These factors include: A progressive loss of the forest cover due to the indiscriminate felling and burning of forests in spring areas and buffer zones; Altering the course of several rivers; Poor soil management in the basins, especially in high and middle basin areas; Communities and the productive sector's inappropriate use and management of water; and Wastewater contamination. As for swamps and groundwater, problems mainly regard the degradation and loss of these ecosystems because of human settlements, productive agroindustry and new urban developments within their catchment areas and buffer zones.22 19 Corporación para el desarrollo sostenible del área de manejo especial la macarena (2010). Plan de gestión ambiental regional (2010-2016). CORPOMACARENA, Villavicencio. 20 Information provided by CORMACARENA in response to the right to petition invoked by LRDP in the claim filed on March 3rd, 2017. 21 Instituto Geográfico Agustín Codazzi (2004). El Meta: un territorio de oportunidades. Gobernación del Meta - IGAC. 22 Information provided by CORMACARENA in response to the right to petition invoked by LRDP in the claim filed on March 3rd, 2017.
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