PS 66-99
Modeling conservation criteria in the Chingaza Ramsar, Andes Mountains, Colombia
Wetlands chosen as Ramsar sites must meet specific criteria of conservation according to COP (Conference of the Contracting Parties of Ramsar Convention). The criteria for the Chingaza Ramsar are to conserve an area which must cover significantly the glacial lakes and the biodiversity of the Western Mountains of Chingaza – WMCh – (Andes Mountains, Colombia, South America). With GIS (Geographic Information Systems) tools, I evaluated whether the area selected as Chingaza Ramzar includes significantly these conservation criteria. In addition, I modeled nine variables (glacial lakes, rivers and drainages, basins, vegetation, plant richness, plant endemicity, endangered species of fauna, soils, and ecosystems), which take into account these criteria, to identify high priority areas for conserving.
Results/Conclusion
WMCh has an area of 77668 ha in an altitudinal range from 1899 m to 3989 m, whereas Chingaza Ramsar has an area of 4072.5 ha (5% of WMCh) located between 3046 m and 3989 m. I identify 42 glacial lakes in WMCh, 20 of which are located outside the Ramsar site; four of these lakes are significantly large (4.3 to 6.8 ha) compared to the average lake sizes of WMCh (2.1 ± 1.8 ha) and Ramsar site (2.4 ± 1.5 ha). The analysis of native vegetation covers (Bamboo vegetation, Native grasslands, Frailejonal vegetation, High Andean forests, and Shrub-lands) shows that these covers are significantly different between WMCh and Chingaza Ramsar (X2 = 25.7, p = 0.001); High Andean forest has 32.4% coverage in WMCh, but it is insignificantly represented in Ramsar site. On the other hand, Ramsar site is overrepresented of Frailejonal vegetation (72.5 %) because this vegetation is represented by only 35 % in the WMCh. Also, Chingaza Ramsar currently does not include the two vegetation types with the highest richness and endemicity in the WMCh, Andean Forest (40% of the richness and 62% of the endemicity) and Shrub-land (32% of the richness and 22% of the endemicity). Finally, a high priority area of conservation was identified in the central zones of WMCh, it represented 22.5 % of WMCh (17475.3 ha). This area is surrounding the 42 glacial lakes of WMCh. In addition, this zone is ranging from high elevations (covering Frailejonal, Bamboo and native grassland vegetation types) to areas around 2600 m (covering shrub-lands and Andean forest). In conclusion, I found that a Chingaza Ramsar does not include appropriating its conservation criteria; therefore, I suggest that this Ramsar site should be enlarged. In conclusion, I found that the area selected as Chingaza Ramsar does not include some of its conservation criteria; therefore, I suggest that this Ramsar site should be enlarged.