Save the Date

The Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations in NY

is pleased to invite you to attend a virtual side event on
Discover the Páramos, the source of life in the Andes
to combat climate change and biodiversity loss

Hosted by the President of Colombia, Mr. Iván Duque Márquez

24, September 2020; 15:00 – 16:20 EST
Meeting link will be sent to participants who confirm assistance

RSVP HERE For inquiries, please contact Faryde Carlier, fcarlier@colombiaun.org , or Juan Cuéllar Torres,
jcuellar@colombiaun.org
Background:

Mountains are fragile ecosystems which are globally important as factories of the earth's water, habitats of rich
biological diversity, places for recreation and tourism, and areas of important cultural value. They directly provide
food for 10% of humanity, 30-60% of the water in humid areas and more than 70-95% in semi-arid and arid
environments. Approximately 11% of the earth's surface is located in mountainous areas above 2000 meters above
sea level, which is an important percentage considering that they represent one of the main drinkable water sources
in the world.

In the Andes, the Páramos are one of the most interesting life zones, located at the upper mountain cold equatorial
ecosystems, above approx. 3.000 meters. More than half of the existing area of those ecosystems worldwide is located
in Colombia, on top of the three Andean cordilleras that cross Colombia from South to North, arriving almost to the
Caribbean coast. They occupy slightly less than 3% of the country’s surface.

In terms of biodiversity richness, páramos are extraordinary ecosystems. Colombia’s already very high species richness
is proportionally magnified here. In this very small fraction of the country, more than 5.400 species of plants have
been identified 1.200 are only to be found here, and more than 200 of these are in some endangerment status. Páramos
are home of half of Colombia’s 380 endemic amphibians, of about half of the birds and 20% of the mammals that
are only found in Colombia live in the páramos. Among these are the unique Andean bear, (Tremarctos ornatus) also
known as the spectacled bear, and the sumptuous Andean Condor.

Also, the climatic conditions and physical situation of páramos turn them into enormous sponges. Low temperatures
added to low levels of oxygen make decomposition rates especially low. Consequently, organic material accumulates
and develop soil conditions that can retain up to twice their weight in water. This, along with plants adaptation to the
liquid water scarcity, give paramos the ability to retain water from the clouds and from the glaciers, releasing it slowly
in its liquid form towards subterranean deposits, brooks, and the main rivers and dams in the country.

More than half of Colombia’s 35 million inhabitants, including 15 big urban centers, drink water from páramos.
Likewise, more than half of our hydroelectric capacity directly depends on the water made available by this unique
ecosystem. Agricultural activities, from big rice and sugar cane plantations, are also supplied by these “water factories”.
This is what páramos are well known for. But this complex ecosystem is much more than this.

Páramos have been part of human life and humans have appropriated them since pre-columbian times. Their richness
and biodiversity make them the source of life of the Andes.

Today, their astonishing biodiversity and key role in water regulation and provision will be fundamental for a green,
and resilient recovery, considering the opportunities of nature-based solutions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
and protect biodiversity.
Agenda:
● Opening Remarks by H.E. Iván Duque Marquez, President of the Republic of Colombia - 10min

● Video - 3 min

● Context of the Páramos as strategic ecosystems for climate change and biodiversity - Cristián Samper,
President and CEO of WCS- 10min

● Panel moderated by H.E. Iván Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia - 35min

● Carlos Manuel Rodríguez, CEO of Global Environment Facility

● Satya S. Tripathi, Assistant Secretary-General and Head of UNEP New York Office
● Fiona Clouder, COP26 Regional Ambassador for Latin America and the Caribbean
● Andrea Meza Murillo, Minister of Environment of Costa Rica
● Mauricio Diazgranados, Research leader at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
● Thomas Lovejoy, professor in the department of environmental science and policy at George Mason
University
● Juan Pablo Bonilla, Manager, Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector, Inter-American
Development Bank.

● Open discussion ( In the RSVP please subscribe to List of Speakers)– 15 min

● Conclusions by Iván Duque Márquez, President of the Republic of Colombia - 5 min