UNESCO/Toson-Khulstai Biosphere Reserve
Cinturón Andino
General information
The Cinturón Andino Biosphere Reserve is located at the Macizo Colombiano, in the Andean Chain in south Colombia. It comprises three National Parks: the Cueva de los Guacharos National Park, the Purace National Park and the Nevado del Huila National Park. The Cueva de los Guacharos National Park comprises complex and special geological formations and caves created by the Suazas River.
Detailed information
Key data
Year of nomination
1979
Country
Colombia
Total population
2320755
Area
Surface
2,379,564.00 ha
Total terresterial area
2,379,564.00 ha
Location
Latitiude: 2.73 - Longitude: -76.19
Contact
Ecological Characteristics
The relief is sloped, covered by humid and cloud forests. The biosphere reserve also includes the snowy peaks of the Nevado del Huila National Park that rises to a height of 5,750 meters above sea level.Vegetation ranges from sub hygrophyte to snow levels and includes cloud forest and high barren plains. The park is specially rich in birds, as the condor (Vultur gryphus) the Colombian national emblema, the real eagle (Accipiter collaris), and the danta (Tapirus pinchaque). The volcanic chain of Purace’s National Park includes seven craters, with sources of thermal waters, 30 lagoons and waterfalls and the Magdalena’s, Cauca’s and Caqueta’s river head as a fluvial star.
Socio-Economics Characteristics
Eight ethnic groups (Guambianos, Paeces, Yanconas, Kokonucos, Polindaras, Totares e Ingas) (2000), with their own culture and traditional practices, live in the Andean belt. Traditional, modern peasants, and ’colons‘ are engaged in different activities from agriculture practices to cattle grazing and also extraction of high-value timber, affecting the mountainous ecosystems. Destruction practices of ’illicit cultures‘ with herbicides provoke serious impacts on natural ecosystems, increasing social conflicts. Institutions, associations of indigenous peoples and peasants start to work jointly in regional planning efforts to manage sustainable agroecosystems, recuperate river basins, and implement indigenous ’life plans‘.Tourist attractions include visits to thermal and archeological sites, as well as volcanos and cascades.
