Mangroves of Colombia

Abstract

Colombia's mangrove ecosystem displays a great variety of fauna and flora over the Caribbean and Pacific coast and is a very important link between the whole coastal and marine landscape. Several studies in the country have proven its capacity to provide certain ecosystem services, such as carbon sequestration among others highly related to food security. To promote mangrove ecosystems conservation, National Environmental System of Colombia has defined an institutional framework composed by local authorities and research institutes, which had developed several laws and regulations that have worked as tools for the conservation of this ecosystem. Although changes in land use, resource extraction, natural phenomena and accidental spills of oil are still affecting these ecosystems, it has become necessary to maintain the monitoring system recently implemented at the national level and strengthen land-use planning instruments in order to answer to vulnerability to climate and non-climate stressors.