Santa Marta montane forests
The Santa Marta montane forests are a unique and biodiverse ecoregion located in northern Colombia, distinguished as the highest coastal mountain range in the world, with peaks reaching approximately 18,700 feet (5,700 meters). This region exhibits a remarkable range of ecosystems due to its varying altitudes, from snow-capped summits to lush lowland rainforests, and covers an area of about 4,600 square miles (12,000 square kilometers). The montane forests begin between 1,650 and 2,620 feet (500 and 800 meters) and are noted for their high levels of endemism, with over 1,046 vertebrate species and more than 3,000 vascular plant species identified, many of which are endemic to the region.
The average annual rainfall in the area is around 80 inches (200 centimeters), supporting a diverse array of flora and fauna, including numerous mammal, bird, amphibian, and reptile species. The region is also culturally significant, inhabited by several indigenous groups, such as the Kogui, Ika, Wiwa, and Kankuamo, who maintain a deep connection to the land. However, human activities have led to significant forest loss, with estimates suggesting a reduction of 70 to 80 percent in original coverage over the last fifty years due to political, economic, and social conflicts. Conservation efforts are underway, including the establishment of two national parks and a designation as a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO to protect this vital and threatened ecosystem.
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Subject Terms
Santa Marta montane forests
Category: Forest Biomes.
Geographic Location: South America.
Summary: This isolated mountain range, situated beside the Caribbean Sea in Colombia, supports a wide variety of flora and fauna with a high rate of endemism.
The Santa Marta Montane Forests biome spreads across a mountain range located in northern Colombia, but isolated from the Andes. The highest coastal mountain range in the world, the Santa Marta’s tallest peak is at approximately 18,700 feet (5,700 meters) above sea level. The ecoregion has a triangular shape, with its northern edge running along the Caribbean Sea; it covers an area of approximately 4,600 square miles (12,000 square kilometers). Because of its unique location and altitude variation, this mountain range has all the possible tropical elevation steps, and therefore ecosystems, known for tropical America—from snow-capped peaks to lush, lowland rainforest.
Santa Marta montane forests begin above 1,650–2,620 feet (500–800 meters). The many isolated valleys and ridges along this gradient have led to high levels of endemism (species found nowhere else) and diversity, and it is one of the few areas in the Colombian region with a relatively low level of transformation of the natural coverage.
The average annual rainfall here is 80 inches (200 centimeters), although it can reach as high as 120 inches (300 centimeters) on the northern slopes. Typically, rainfall decreases as altitude increases. Rainfall peaks between September and December, and again between May and July. Temperatures range from averages of 81 degrees F (27 degrees C) at sea level to 43 degrees F (6 degrees C) or less in the highest areas. In general, the highest temperatures occur in the months of April, May, and June.
Flora and Fauna
The Santa Marta Montane Forests biome is recognized globally for its cultural and biological diversity, high levels of endemism, species richness, and the isolation of this massif from the Andean region. The ecoregion is home to at least 1,046 species of vertebrates and more than 3,000 species of vascular plants, which present high values of endemism at altitudes above 5,280 feet (1,610 meters).
The greatest diversity of plants can be found in the zone between 3,820 and 8,200 feet (1,000 and 2,500 meters). Some of the families of vascular plants of particular interest are the Melastomataceae, Bromeliaceae, Asteraceae, and Lamiaceae. Angiosperm families with the most genera include: Asteraceae, Orchidaceae, Leguminosae, and Rubiaceae. Among both of these listings are a large number of endemics.
The number and variation of fauna species in the Santa Marta forests is remarkable; over 600 animal species have been identified here. Mammals include the red howler monkey, lemurine night monkey, Hoffmann’s two-toed sloth, ocelot, white-fronted capuchin, bicolor-spined porcupine, nine-banded armadillo, long-tailed weasel, neotropical otter, giant anteater, South American tapir, white-lipped peccary, gray fox, many small mammals, and a very high number of bat species.
More than 200 species of birds have been identified here, such as the endangered Santa Marta sabrewing, Santa Marta bush tyrant, and Santa Marta parakeet; the critical-listed blue-knobbed curassow; and blue-headed and red-billed parrots, white-tipped quetzal, golden-green woodpecker, rufous-tailed jacamar, laughing falcon, tropical screech-owl, black-crowned night-heron, as well as various hummingbirds. At least 20 amphibian species and nearly 40 reptile species have been identified.
Human Impact
This montane ecoregion is important globally based not only on the high biodiversity of ecosystems within its boundaries, but also on the cultural diversity that can be found here. Four indigenous peoples inhabit this mountain area and base their knowledge and traditions on their environment; these are the Kogui, Ika, Wiwa, and Kankuamo. In addition to these four tribes, the River Rancheria basin on the eastern slope of the mountain range is inhabited by the Wayuu indigenous group, which is originally from the Guajira peninsula. These peoples are few in number.
The mountains of this sierra ecoregion previously held a settlement of pre-Columbian aboriginal communities that left signs of their presence in various areas. Groups of Europeans have made settlements here since the late 19th century. The area covered by montane forests has declined drastically during the last 50 years. In some cases, it is estimated that the reduction in the original forest is between 70 and 80 percent.
The Santa Marta montane forests have also been affected over the last five decades by many political, economic, and social conflicts that have led to chaotic and uncontrolled use of the land and natural resources. Over time, this has transformed the natural covers and modified the original ecosystems, threatening all the components of its biodiversity. Also, the sociopolitical situation has limited the development of research and effective protection of the natural areas.
Additionally, climate change is forcing many species here to adapt, move, or perish. Habitats of some birds of the Santa Marta montane forests, for example, are projected to shrink in size by as much as one-third or more under future global warming scenarios. Many species will be under duress as temperatures rise and precipitation becomes less predictable.
Based on the importance of the region, different categories of protection have been established, and there are several regional processes of conservation that seek to reduce the increasing pressures caused by the expanding agricultural frontier. Because of the importance in terms of biodiversity, the area has received national and international attention. Two national parks have been established here, Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Park and Tayrona National Park; the ecoregion was designated as a Biosphere Reserve in 2012 by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), and was being considered for World Heritage Site status as of the early 2020s.
Bibliography
Carriker, Melbourne R. Vista Nieve: The Remarkable True Adventures of an Early Twentieth Century Naturalist and His Family in Colombia, South America. Rio Hondo, TX: Blue Mantle Pubs., 2001.
Strattersfield, A. J., M. J. Crosby, A. J. Long, and D. C. Wege. Endemic Bird Areas of the World: Priorities for Biodiversity Conservation. Cambridge, UK: BirdLife International, 1998.
“Tayrona and Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Parks and Their Archaeological Sites.” United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), 2022, whc.unesco.org/en/tentativelists/5765/. Accessed 1 Sept. 2022.
Velasquez-Tibata, Jorge, Paul Salaman, and Catherine H. Graham. “Effects of Climate Change on Species Distribution, Community Structure, and Conservation of Birds in Protected Areas in Colombia.” Regional Environmental Change (July 2012).