Colombia has diverse natural regions and water resources due to its varied climates and landscapes. It has Amazonian, Orinoco, Andean, Pacific and Caribbean regions which support different economic activities like agriculture, livestock, forestry and mining. However, deforestation, erosion, sedimentation and contamination are threatening water resources. There is also lack of priority given to environmental management and improving social conditions in conflict regions. Proper management of paramos, wetlands and arid regions is needed to sustainably manage Colombia's water resources and address problems faced by critical natural areas.

1. COLOMBIA
WATER RESOURCES AND
NATURAL REGIONS
FREDY NEIRA

2. COLOMBIA
1’141.748 Km2

3. PANAMA
CARIBEAN SEA
VENEZUELA
BRASIL
PERU
ECUADOR
PACIFIC
OCEAN
Ecuador line

4. PARAMO (BLEAK
WARM
COLD
VERY COLD
SNOW
MODERATE
Meters
4200
3200
2800
2000
1000
0
Temperature
>2°C
6-18°C
12-18°C
18-24°C
°24-27°C
<27°C
CLIME

5. POPULATION
40’000.000
70% = Urban areas
(Bogotá = 9´000.000)

6. CULTURE
More than 66
Native groups

7. Natural Regions

8. AMAZONEAN
WARM
<24°C
4000mm
FORESTRY,
NATURAL PROTECTED
AREA
AMAZONAS RIVER BASIN

12. ORINOQUIC
WARM
<24°C
1500-2000
mm
LIVESTOCK,
OIL PALM
RICE, SORGUM
ORINOCO RIVER BASIN
OIL
EXTRACTION

13. ORINOQUEA REGION

15. ANDEAN
ALL CLIMES
FROM < 0 TO 24°C
500-2000mm
TRADITIONAL
AGRICULTURE,
LIVESTOCK
35’215.000 ha

16. ANDEAN MOUNTAINOUS CHAINS
COFFEE!!!
Potato
Vegetables ...
CEREALS (Rice, wheat,
corn, sorghum, barley)
FRUITS (Citrus, bananas,
melon, strawberry, guaba,
pineapple...
Sugar Cane
Flowers
EMERALDS

20. WARM
<24°C
6000-14000
mm
FORESTRY,
FISHERY,
GOLD EXTRACTION
PACIFIC
REGION

23. CARIBEAN
12’771.800 ha
WARM
<24°C
-500 1500mm
LIVESTOCK,
COTTON,
CASABA/YAM/
CORN
Santamarta
Barranquilla
Cartagena

25. MOMPOX
WETLAND
1’150.000 ha
WARM
<24°C
-500 1500mm
FISHERY,
HUNT (Turtle, Boas,
Ducks...

26. Sediments
from erosion
and
contaminants from the
Andean Region

28. GUAJIRA
DESERT
WARM
<27°C
>500mm
SALT,
COAL,
CATTLE
1’350.000 ha

29. No Agriculture
Water Deficit
Underground water = saline

32. Cauca
& Magdalena
Valleys
WARM
<24°C
500-2000
mm
INTENSIVE
AGRICULTURE
,
CATTLE,
… ha

34. Cauca
& Magdalena
Valleys
WARM
<24°C
500-2000
mm
INTENSIVE
AGRICULTURE
,
CATTLE,
… ha

35. High Plateau
Cundi-Boyaca &
Nariño
MODERATE COLD
>18°C
500-2000
mm
INTENSIVE
AGRICULTURE
,
CATTLE,
… ha

36. HETEROGENEUS COUNTRY
- Landscapes
- Climes
- Soils
- Geology
- Topography
- People …

37. HIGH BIODIVERSITY
1rst Bio-diversity Country
5th Water resources

38. Deforestation &
Erosion (mountains)
Sedimentation and
Water Reduction
+ Contamination (low lands)
POVERTY

39. X
DESERTIFICATION
REGIONS
Man caused
Natural Origin
National Natural
Parks

40. NO POLITICAL INTEREST TO:
Improve - Social Conditions
-Education System
70 % of Resources are been using in
Internal War

41. MINISTRY OF AGRICULTURE
INAT
Built Irrigation Systems
But no in priority regions
(Only for BIG farmers)
Corpoica
“We are not
Interested in
Environmental
Problems”

42. Paramos (High Mountains),
Wetlands
Arid regions
WATER RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
IS PRIORITY
CRITICAL REGIONS

43. (High mountains)
Capture and supply
water resources
PARAMOS

44. Water contamination from the
High mountains

45. WET LANDS

46. Problems Potentiality
Sedimentation and
Water contamination
Water,
Fauna and fishery

47. ARID LANDS

48. Design Water harvest systems
Purpose agricultural systems
adapted to arid conditions
Objetives

49. Thank you
Gracias