How to Protect Free Flowing Rivers: The Bita River Ramsar Site as an Example of Science and Management Tools Working Together

Cesar Freddy Suárez, Monica Paez-Vasquez, Fernando Trujillo, Jose Saulo Usma, Michele Thieme, Andrea M. Bassi, Luis German Naranjo, Simon Costanzo, Oscar Manrique, Georg Pallaske and Javier Flechas
Additional contact information
Cesar Freddy Suárez: Conservation and Governance Department, WWF Colombia, Cali 760033, Colombia
Monica Paez-Vasquez: Omacha Foundation, Bogotá 111211, Colombia
Fernando Trujillo: Omacha Foundation, Bogotá 111211, Colombia
Jose Saulo Usma: Conservation and Governance Department, WWF Colombia, Cali 760033, Colombia
Michele Thieme: WWF US, Washington, DC 20037, USA
Andrea M. Bassi: School of Public Leadership, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch 7602, South Africa
Luis German Naranjo: Conservation and Governance Department, WWF Colombia, Cali 760033, Colombia
Simon Costanzo: Integration and Application Network—University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Cambridge, MD 21613, USA
Oscar Manrique: Forest, Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Direction, Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, Bogotá 110311, Colombia
Georg Pallaske: KnowlEdge Srl, 21057 Olgiate Olona, Italy
Javier Flechas: Environment Planning Sub-Direction, Corporinoquia, Yopal 850001, Colombia

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 4, 1-16

Abstract: The Orinoco river basin is the third largest river in the world by volume. Its catchment encompasses 27 major sub-basins including the Bita with a catchment area of about 825,000 ha, which originates in the Colombian high plains in the Llanos ecoregion. It has been recognized as a priority area for conservation through different gap analyses and overall determined to have good health according to the Orinoco report card 2016. The natural climate and hydrologic processes, and their synergies with flooded forests, savannas, wetlands, species diversity and local economic activities, are part of a dynamic and sensitive system. With the purpose of conserving the ecological, social and cultural benefits that it brings, the Colombian Government, with the support of regional and local civil society organizations, promoted the designation of a conservation area. Technical exercises were carried out including biological and socioeconomic surveys, local stakeholder consultations and future scenario modeling. In June 2018, the Bita River basin was designated as the largest Ramsar site in Colombia, providing a worldwide example of explicit protection of riverine systems. In order to maintain this free-flowing river, land use and fisheries management, in conjunction with other conservation actions, are being implemented and provide a model of protection for freshwater ecosystems that could be replicated elsewhere.

Keywords: free-flowing; freshwater; Ramsar; conservation (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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