Deforestation and fragmentation in the most biodiverse areas in the Western Cordillera of Antioquia (Colombia)

Abstract

The degradation of ecosystems in the Andes, one of the most biodiverse regions in the world, is caused by de-forestation and forest fragmentation.The implementation of protected areas (PA) is an effective conservation strategy to mitigate the effects of landscape transformation on biodiversity.In the western mountain range of Colombia, in Antioquia, the Spectacled Bear Corridor (COA, ~ 4169 km2) was recently established.We describe the state of forest conservation in the COA and analyze whether areas of high biodiversity are being protected or not, using information obtained from remote sensors and large databases.The results indicate that defores-tation (162.37 km2) and fragmentation (> 90%) in the COA during the last 19 years are concentrated in the areas of greatest biodiversity, and occur both inside and outsidePA.Although protected areas reach 30% of the total area of the COA, the areas with the greatest biodiversity represent less than 17%.These results indicate the risk of biodiversity loss and the growing need to strengthen PA and to delimit new biodiverse areas.