Fonseca-Cepeda, V., C. J. Idrobo, and S. Restrepo. 2019. The changing chagras: traditional ecological knowledge transformations in the Colombian Amazon. Ecology and Society 24(1):8. https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-10416-240108

From a comprehensive diagnosis of the associated basins, islands, and wetlands of the coastal lagoon system of Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, Colombia, this work describes feasible options for the recovery of its ecosystem’s health and ecological resilience. Firstly, the state of the coastal lagoon was assessed, finding that hydrology, wave climate, and the morphological changes of the coastline explain recent changes in the coastal wetlands. Key variables were used to describe the level of conservation or degradation of the coastal lagoon system and to identify measures to improve its ecological functions. Finally, to mimic some of these functions and improve connectivity of the ecosystems, green infrastructure alternatives were proposed for the short and medium term to recover the services of these ecosystems and restore their resilience.

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Understanding the state of knowledge of pollinators and their interactions with plants is critical for planning and developing effective conservation strategies. Despite the many challenges in studying bee diversity and pollination services in Colombia, this contribution represents a preliminary effort to quantitatively assess existing information gaps. This is particularly important in regions of high biodiversity that have historically been understudied and are now facing significant environmental pressures from human activities. Based on a review of the literature, we present the first quantitative assessment of bee biodiversity, bee-plant interactions, and pollination services in Colombia. We analyzed 88 publications and extracted data across the following categories: i) bee diversity, ii) bee-plant interactions, and iii) assessment of pollination services. For each bee and plant species documented, we recorded taxonomic and geographic information, resulting in a total of 8,099 records. Most records report information on bee diversity (58%), followed by bee-plant interactions (29%), and assessments of pollination services (13%). Most records correspond to corbiculate bees (Apidae) from modified ecosystems in the Andean region, particularly at lower elevations. Studies evaluating pollination services are limited and tend to rely on qualitative methods. The implications of these results, taxonomically and geographically skewed towards common taxa and Colombia’s most populated areas, are discussed in the context of ongoing efforts to conserve pollinator populations in the country.