The enchanting Colombian landscapes are at risk. According to a deforestation report by IDEAM and the Ministry of the Environment, in 2021 the deforestation index in Colombia rose by 8%. This means that the country is more exposed to climate change and each day loses some of its natural biodiversity. This is especially critical in what is one of the most biodiverse areas of the world. That’s why we are uniting to plant the seed of conscientiousness regarding this phenomenon and put plans into action that will contribute to mitigating the effects of deforestation.
At Buencafé Freeze-dried of Colombia, planting and caring for our trees forms part of our sustainability policy in which we place importance on our ecosystem to help it maintain a natural equilibrium.
Here are some of the species of trees that beautify the surroundings of this facility:
Guayacan: Has a variety of subspecies, like Jacaranda and the yellow Guayacan. But in Colombia, the Black Guayacan and the Bola Guayacan are especially important and find themselves in danger. It’s not just from the exploitation that they’ve been subjected to, but also from the transformation of their natural ecosystem. Their use by the lumber industry has been prohibited.
Chickadee: Is being threatened by deforestation, the destruction of its natural habitat and the over-exploitation of its wood. It’s also used for making cardboard. Few steps have been taken for its protection.
Cedar: Is a species identified as vulnerable around the world because of its over-exploitation by the lumber industry. In Colombia it’s in danger because of intense over-exploitation. That’s why in some regions of the country it’s being protected.
Almond: Is a vulnerable species in Colombia because it can be used as lumber. In some regions it’s very sought after, also because its seeds are edible and serve as a source of oil.
Native Palm: It’s a family of trees very easily recognizable despite the vast number of varieties. There are 190 variations and 2,300 tropical species. There are 213 species of native palms distributed among 44 variations. Colombia is the country with the most palms on the American continent, and the second in the world.
Foreign Palm: Palms exist all around the world because there are varieties suitable for all climates. They are important because they’re a food source for wildlife. Additionally, they’re the third most useful plant for humans because they provide so many different uses.
Bibliography
Calderón, E. & Galeano, G. (Ed.). Red Book of Plants in Colombia. Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Biological Resources, Institute of Natural Sciences, National University of Colombia.
EIA University. “Aguacatillo.” Virtual Catalog of Flora of the Aburrá Valley. Consulted April 16, 2022 at https://catalogofloravalleaburra.eia.edu.co/species/49 .
Lasso, C., Rial, A., Clonnello, G., Machado-Allison, A., & Trujillo, F. (Ed.). Wetlands of the Orinoquía (Colombia-Venezuela). Alexander von Humboldt Institute of Biological Resources.
