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Countries Appendix COLOMBIA (51.0%) Despite its relatively small size, Colombia is the second most biologically diverse country on Earth, home to about 10% of the world's species. This array of diversity is derived from Colombia's varied ecosystems, from the rich tropical rainforest to the coastal cloud forests to the open savannas. More than 1,815 species of birds, 590 species of amphibians, and 3,200 species of fish reside in Colombia. Unfortunately, Colombia's rich biodiversity is increasing threatened by commercial and illegal logging operations, mining activities, agricultural projects, illegal animal collecting, and pollution. The destruction of the Pacific Coast rainforests is increasing due to industrial gold mining and palm oil plantations. Industrial gold mining alone causes 197,600 acres (80,000 hectares) of forest to disappear every year in addition to contaminating local rivers with mercury and siltation. Additionally, illegal logging, controlled by timber cartels similar to drug cartels, is accelerating in national parks. Similarly, the large scale illegal export of endangered wildlife from parks and reserves is rampant. The government estimates that more than seven million animals were smuggled from Colombia in 1997 accounting for $40 million in the black market. Enforcement of conservation laws is difficult considering the widespread murders of government officials. Law and order is almost reaching a state of anarchy in parts of Colombia and government seats go unfilled as no one wants to risk their life. To further confound the issue, roads opened for logging and mining operations are rapidly colonized by peasants who devastate remaining forest stocks by the collection of fuelwood, subsistence agriculture, and hunting. Oil exploitation is also a threat to the forests and indigenous peoples of Colombia. In 1997, 5000 U'wa Indians threatened mass suicide if Occidental Oil proceeded with oil exploration in their forest home. Terrorist attacks on oil pipelines and installations by guerrillas in Eastern Colombia have resulted in the spillage of more than 2 million barrels of crude into local rivers since 1986. In the highlands, the widespread cultivation of coca (the leaves of which are used for cocaine production) is resulting extensive deforestation. There are some 188,000 acres (76,000 ha) of coca growing in Colombia, up from 170,700 acres (69,100 ha) in 1996 and 127,000 acres (51,400 ha) in 1995. Each hectare of coca plantation requires the clearing of four acres of forest, and that land is usually only good for cultivation for a few years using existing cultivation techniques. It appears that little can be done to prevent or limit the cultivation of coca because of its cultural appeal and more importantly, its economic returns. Peasants will harvest what pays them the best; and government initiatives have had little effect thus far other than provoke more violence. Some hope that by devising other means for peasants to earn income, the production of coca will decline. One plan is to use the farming of cabybara on degraded forest lands as a source of meat in the Macarena region of Central Colombia. Experts estimate that peasants could better their earning from the cultivation of coca from this practice. The government has employed less intelligent forms of coca eradication, like arial spraying of herbicides that not only kill other vegetation, but pollute rivers and streams and may cause long-term health affects. . . . . . For current information I highly recommend trying the CIA and FAO links below. |
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