Ecological Restoration of an altered area at the Majuy Mountain in

Ecological Restoration of an altered area at the Majuy
Mountain in Cota,
Colombia
Introduction
Human kind's constant pressure has generated alarming transformations to the
natural ecosystems, which has caused, amongst other negative effects, the
decrease and contamination of water resources, erosion and degradation of soils,
the climatic global change and also serious impact on the biodiversity (CBD 2010);
this last one is reflected in a distressing loss of species that directly affects natural
communities as well as their ecological relationships, including the offer of goods
and services belonging to the ecosystem.
The Majuy Mountain, which is located in the town of Cota (Cundinamarca) near
Bogota, is not the exception to this problem. There is a high pressure for urban
land and the exotic forest that dominates the place has a high risk of forest fires.
These have caused the disappearance of water sources, impoverishment of soil
and a major decrease in the native vegetation and wildlife. For this reason and
with the support of Clariant Colombia and the Swiss Agency for Development and
Cooperation under the Suizagua Program, it was possible to implement strategies
towards the ecological rehabilitation of three hectares of the Mountain, these 3
hectares are already finished and another 16 are
waiting for proper funding.
Objective
The objective was to design
and implement an
ecological restoration plan
for three hectares of an
altered area in the Majuy
Hill, located within the
property of Bioparque La Reserva in Cota, Colombia.
Area of interest
Methodology
Stage I: Delimitation of the area of interest and definition of the purpose of
restoration.
Stage II: Characterization of the ecosystem's components: Soil, vegetation,
arthropofauna, avifauna. Also, the identification of the stressors was made as well
as limiting and potential factors of the area of interest.
Stage III: Definition of strategies (Ecological restoration plan) and an evaluation
and follow up program.
Stage IV: Implementation of the Ecological Restoration Plan.
Stage V: Monitoring
Stage VI: Maintenance and control of invasive plant species
Results and Discussion
Invasive species and exotic plants were eradicated:
145 trees of Eucaliptus Globulus, 130 (DAP-10 cm), 15
(DAP 10 to 30 cm)
350 shrubs of the highly invasive Teline
Monspessulana
Approximately 1000 m² of a fern of the Pteridium
aquilinum species
1270 plants from 19 different native species were planted in floristic designs and
enrichment areas, 42 artificial bird perches and 2 natural shelters for mammals
were installed. The process is being monitored with the measurement of indicator
variables for three components of the ecosystem (birds, vegetation and
arthropofauna).
Is it vital to highlight how companies, communities and social promoters have
gathered together with the objective to help the environment and are able to
direct their efforts towards a common purpose, which is the restoration of
degraded areas.
Conclusion
With the implementation of restoration
strategies over these hectares located at the
Majuy Mountain, an a long term improvement
of the level of conservation and the ecosystem
services are expected. At the same time a
raise on the diversity of plant and animal
species is assured and so far the amount of bird species has increased from 12 to
more than 40. Also the first spring of water of the mountain has already been
recovered from several years of water absence.
This experience has had specific goals and is an example of the joint effort
between the international and local entities and a heavy educational message to
the biopark’s thousands of yearly visitors who visit and get immersed in the
project.
Bibliography
CONVENIO SOBRE DIVERSIDAD BIOLÓGICA (CBD). 2010. Estrategia global para la
conservacion vegetal. López, J. M. & D.Bramwell (Ed). Área de medio ambiente y
Aguas del Cabildo de Gran Canaria, Jardín Botánico Canario ¨Viera y Clavijo¨. Islas
Canarias, España.
Acknowledgements
To Clariant Colombia and the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation. To
all the guides, workers, assistants and volunteers that participated and supported
with great effort and dedication the field work.
Author: Mario Mora for the 3rd Iberoamerican and Caribbean Conference on
Ecological Restoration
Contact: [email protected]
Phone number: +57310 2358456 – +571 8766348