Together we work for the preservation of wetlands

Wetlands are vital for the survival of humanity as it is one of the most productive environments in the world, as well as being the cradle of an incredible biodiversity, hosting an innumerable amount of plant and animal species. At least in 82% of the municipalities of Colombia we can find this type of ecosystem.

However, all the studies that have been carried out show that wetlands are decreasing dramatically in a large part of the world, in fact, according to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, better known as the "Ramsar Convention", it is estimated that last century, the extent of wetlands worldwide fell between 64% and 71%, and the degradation of this ecosystem continues in a sustained manner.

Alliances for creating a better future

There are many reasons why wetlands are at risk, for example, the fact that many people maintain the mistaken idea that they are stagnant waters and not ecosystems, so they seek to get rid of these environments; also the solid waste dumped that contaminate the waters, as well as infrastructure works that obstruct water flows.

To combat the degradation of wetlands, at Enel-Emgesa we have been working since 2016 in an alliance with Parque Jaime Duque, under the Ecoparque Sabana project, an initiative that seeks to restore and preserve the wetlands found in the Bogotá savannah. In this project we are supporting the recovery of more than 60 hectares of wetlands that are vital for our area of influence in the municipality of Tocancipá, where the Termozipa thermoelectric generation plant is located. So far we have made an investment of $ 220,000,000 and it is estimated that the initiative will have a duration of more than 20 years.

We joined this project due to our commitment to environmental conservation, as we subscribed to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, and specifically SDG # 13 that seeks to combat climate change.

Research, monitoring and outreach

This project has 3 lines of action. The first consists of the re-vegetation and maintenance of the space, with the goal of recovering the wetland system and create forests. This is done through the insertion of more than 30,000 vegetal specimens among trees, shrubs and other species selected for the area, and thus, generating an ideal habitat for wildlife.

The second line of action consists of research and monitoring, to devise the best restoration strategies, such as creating artificial wetlands with trapezoidal shape so that diverse vegetal species can be planted at different height levels in order to achieve an optimal ecosystem.

And the third line of action is focused on social management and environmental education of the different communities in the area. Through native plant germination and propagation workshops and tours, the recognition of biodiversity and identification of avifauna, community members become allies in environmental conservation.

Committed to the environment

Thanks to this project we have been able to identify 7 mammal species, 3 reptile species, one amphibious species, 103 bird species and more than 50 insect species that have reached the wetlands after the ecological restoration.

It should be noted that these wetlands have become the new home of migratory bird subspecies that are in danger of extinction: the Pico Verde Tingua and the Pico Azul Duck.

“This project is very important for us. As this is a semi-industrial area, having a wetland system gives us better air and water quality. Moreover, these projects that yield such positive results become an incentive for other organizations to also join this type of work”

– Iván Felipe Reyes, Environmental Professional at Enel-Emgesa

The protection and preservation of these ecosystems is both necessary and urgent; it is a challenge in which we must all take strong measures to mitigate the effects of global warming, while raising awareness on the importance of making good use of and respecting the environment.