Rediscovering a rare wax palm– Ceroxylon sasaimae– of which only 200 individuals are known worldwide, the enlargement of the list of lowland birds for Anorí municipality, and what is probably the first recording for the country of an arboreal mouse that lives in the treetops are only some of the scientific findings of the Colombia Anorí Expedition that was held between July 17th and 31st.
It was financed and coordinated by the EPM-PNUD partnership, conducted by Universidad EAFIT, with the participation of Universidad de Antioquia and CES, the Reintegration Board of Antioquia, EPM, the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace, Corantioquia and ISA Intercolombia. As part of the UNO reincorporation process, 10 ex-combatants of the former guerilla group “FARC” acted as guides for the explorers.
The treasures were discovered by biologists with expertise on mammals, birds, amphibians, reptiles, insects and plants, who during 15 days embarked in one of the least scientifically explored areas of Colombia to which access was previously denied for biotic and recording research due to the armed conflict.
Ecosystems like the rain forest of Anorí, that has around 52 thousand hectares and is about 800 mts above sea level, are now more accessible to scientists due to the agreement between the former guerilla Farc and the National Government. This is the reason why this location was selected to be one of the twenty biological expeditions scheduled for 2018 by Colciencias, with the support of PNUD within the Colombia BIOprogram.
“The field work was very hard, access was complicated. It had to be dry and it rained a lot, which greatly complicated the work in field. Every person engaged in the project contributed with great passion. It was highly scientific work in which lots of information needed to be analyzed in the lab to provide concluding data”, states Juan Fernando Díaz Nieto, professor in the Department of Biological Sciences at EAFIT and coordinator of the scientific expedition.
The difficult transport and housing conditions, the problems generated by the weather and the demanding tasks were overcome thanks to the curiosity of the scientists upon visiting a place of great biodiversity, which makes up part of the Choco and the Andean region. This is one of the richest natural areas of the planet, and simultaneously is in danger of disappearing.
“One of the results was to accomplish the enlargement of the list of the lowland birds of Anorí. Serious and hard research on birds has been carried out specially on high lands, but this time the relevance was given to the lowland birds of the biogeographical Choco area. We expanded a little- known component of biofauna”, says Diego Calderón, biologist of Universidad de Antioquia and bird-watching expert.
Researchers enthusiastically observe the preliminary findings and hope to have consolidated results in a few weeks. The next step is to analyze the different animal and vegetable samples to confirm the recording of new species for the country. Biologists state that a great diversity of amphibians and butterflies have been found so far. These are biotic groups that need lab work to have reliable identification.
National contribution
“These contributions help to strengthen the identity of the country, the sense of Colombian people because our true identity lies in biological diversity. From gathering knowledge and sharing all the benefits with the public, we should understand that biodiversity must be the base for the development of a country like Colombia”, states professor Dino Jesús Tuberquia Muñoz, expeditionary and botanist from the Universidad CES.
Biologist Juan Fernando Díaz thinks that this expedition was a success of reconciliation, of rebuilding our country. “We are in a post-agreement stage and having students of the University working with former combatants is priceless, that cannot be taught in a class-room. I think it is crucial for education to have the opportunity to get out of the class-rooms to experience what this country is”.
At least 20 of the biological collections in the country would be strengthened from samples gathered during the expeditions that Colombia Bio conducted in several ecosystems such as Malpelo island and the natural regions of Caquetá, Guaviare, Chocó, Vichada and Antioquia, among others.
Further information for journalists
Alejandro Gómez Valencia
Journalist
EAFIT Information and Press Area
Telephone: 574 2619500 ext. 9931
Email: jgomez97@eafit.edu.co