Biodiversidad en Cifras: Open data for conservation in Colombia
Biodiversidad en Cifras is an open data platform that provides access to updated information on biodiversity in Colombia. In the context of COP16 and the global biodiversity crisis, this innovative portal, developed with the Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad en Colombia (SiB), allows citizens, researchers, and decision-makers to access valuable information to promote conservation efforts.
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With COP16 in Colombia now underway, WWF has released its Planeta Vivo Report 2024, which warns of a 73% decline in wildlife populations over the past 50 years. This and other data will be crucial in the discussions at COP16, where 196 countries will come together to define global commitments and strategies for biodiversity conservation.
In a context where biodiversity faces significant threats, making informed decisions is essential. However, discussing conservation without reliable and contextualized data diminishes the impact of actions. That’s why we invite you to explore Biodiversida en Cifras, a tool developed in collaboration with the Sistema de Información de Biodiversidad en Colombia (SiB). This platform serves as a repository of consolidated and continuously updated information on the biological diversity of our country.
What is Biodiversidad en Cifras?
The results of the Encuesta Nacional de Biodiversidad y Cambio Climático 2024 are revealing: 80% of Colombians view the country’s biodiversity as being in a critical or fair state. However, only 34% consider it a priority, placing it below issues like climate change (70%) and plastic pollution (63%). This gap presents a challenge: we need to connect public awareness of biodiversity with information that drives actions to protect it.
Have you ever wondered how many species of mammals or amphibians live in Colombia? Or which department has the highest number of sightings of a particular species? Biodiversidad en Cifras allows you to explore the distribution of biological groups across different regions of Colombia and provides detailed information on the conservation status of species through visualizations, interactive dashboards, and direct access to databases. With this data, citizens, researchers, and decision-makers can better communicate information and promote biodiversity conservation, including plants, animals, fungi, and other living organisms in their territories.
The portal not only helps you explore the distribution of biological groups and interests across various regions of the country, but it also provides detailed information on the conservation status of species. This allows you to identify which species are threatened, which are endemic or exotic, and which are subject to trade—essential data for guiding protection strategies and supporting evidence-based decisions.
Discover other initiatives that use data to highlight biodiversity and climate change here.
One of the most valuable aspects of Biodiversidad en Cifras is its collaborative approach, which integrates data from 685 contributors, including local networks and initiatives, territorial entities, NGOs, international organizations, and more. By empowering regional actors as data collectors and guardians of their territories, the portal enables local communities to play an active role in building knowledge for biodiversity conservation.
The extensive network of contributors across different regions allows for addressing common challenges in collecting biodiversity data, such as the geographical dispersion of species and the lack of funding to mobilize people for identification efforts. By consolidating this information in one place and providing the flexibility to check the status of species by department, municipality, and biological groups, access to valuable data is greatly facilitated. This is particularly important in a country like Colombia, where ecosystems are threatened by climate change and habitat loss.
Fascinating Insights from Biodiversidad en Cifras
- One out of every ten known species on Earth lives in Colombia.
- Colombia ranks first in the world for bird, butterfly, and orchid diversity.
- At least 1,550 exotic species of flora and fauna have been identified in the country.
- Valle del Cauca, Meta, Antioquia, and Magdalena are the departments with the highest number of animal species.
- At least 2,104 species in Colombia are currently under some degree of threat.
- It is estimated that Colombia is home to 200,000 species, with 79,828 observed by 2023.
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