Latin America & the Caribbean

Colombia

• © UNESCO/V.Vujicic
• View of Los Katios natural park, Vizcaino, Colombia

The country is covered by the UNESCO Cluster Office in Quito, Ecuador.

Columbia is involved in several projects of regional impact, such as the study of seismic microzoning of Latin American cities, or the Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS).

Colombia currently has 5 biosphere reserves listed with UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere programme. One of these, the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, situated at the Archipelago of San Andrés, covers approximately 10% of the Caribbean sea. Local ecosystems show the effects of mass tourism and overpopulation such as reduced water quality from solid and liquid waste, the effect of inadequate infrastructure and poorly planned urban development.

A special education, public awareness and community involvement programme was organized within the reserve’s community in order to develop environmental education and contribute to sustainable economic and human development. 

Below you can access the projects that are currently being implemented in the country within the framework of UNESCO’s Natural Sciences Sector.

Freshwater

- International Hydrological Programme-Latin America and the Caribbean (IHP-LAC) Working group on snow and ice More

People, Biodiversity and Ecology

- Global change and mountain regions (GLOCHAMORE)  

- Biosphere Reserves (WNBRs)

- UNESCO Chair for human development and environmental education, established in 1994 at Pontificia Bolivariana University of Medellin More

- UNESCO Chair in Strengthening of the Theoretic Studies Program of Ecology, established in 2003 at the Foundation of Popayán University More

Oceans

- Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission: Sub-Commission for the Caribbean and Adjacent Regions (IOCARIBE)

- Pacific Tsunami Warning and Mitigation System (ICG/PTWS)

Earth Sciences

- Seismic Microzoning of Latin American Cities (IGCP, Project 487) 

- Hydrogeology, Hydrochemistry and Management of Coastal Aquifers on the Atlantic Coast of South America (IGCP, Project 519)

Coasts and Small Islands

- Managing beach resources and planning for coastline change, Caribbean islands More

- Caribbean Coastal Marine Productivity Program (CARICOMP): sustaining coastal biodiversity benefits and ecosystem services

- Small Islands VOICE in San Andres Archipelago More

- Youth Visioning for Island Living initiative: Role Playing Game My Island Home, San Andres More