Aporte de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas del Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales a la representatividad de ecosistemas en Colombia

A recent analysis reveals that Colombia's Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) managed by the Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales have significantly improved ecosystem representation, particularly for deep-sea corals. Initially underrepresented at 0%, these ecosystems now show overrepresentation (≥ 60%). The study, covering 18 MPAs from 2010 to 2020, found increased representativity in mangroves, seagrass beds, sedimentary bottoms, and salt flats in the Caribbean, while estuaries, sedimentary bottoms, mangroves, muddy intertidal flats, sandy beaches, and submarine mountains saw growth in the Pacific. Notably, deep-sea corals were newly included as an ecosystem type. However, some ecologically significant ecosystems like Caribbean estuaries (0.55%) and Pacific mixed guandal forests (0.22%) showed no change in representativity. The research underscores the need for further investigation into deep benthic habitats to meet post-2020 biodiversity conservation goals.

Alonso Carvajal, D., & Corredor Rubiano, I. (2020). Aporte de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas del Sistema de Parques Nacionales Naturales a la representatividad de ecosistemas en Colombia. Boletín de Investigaciones Marinas Y Costeras, 49(SuplEsp), 275–288. https://doi.org/10.25268/bimc.invemar.2020.49.suplesp.1064