COS 251-2 - Uncovering Nature’s Treasures in the San Patricio of Arbeláez, Colombia

Abstract: The population of humans on this planet in occupied areas is leading to a lack of availability of adequate living space. As such the human resident is being forced to spread out further and further from population centers and into areas that are less inhabited or uninhabited. The unfortunate side effect from this forced migration is the loss of natural resources and inhabitable land for other organisms and often, organisms that have yet to be identified. These migrations and lack of enforcement of the environmental impact regulations in 2^nd and 3^rd World countries are putting local flora and fauna at risk due to land development. In recent years more people from large cities in Colombia, South America such as Fusagasugá and Bogotá are moving to these rural areas to escape population pressures. Many have stated that Colombia overall has one of the highest densities of flora and fauna in the world, but a full inventory has yet to be recorded. As these delicate areas are impacted and the lack of properly recorded species inventory, the knowledge of the ecology, flora, and fauna may be lost forever. Rural San Jose Del Guadual De La Vereda San Patricio (San Patricio) is a rural unexplored area of the municipality of Arbeláez, Colombia, South America. The San Patricio area ranges between 4000 to 6500 feet in elevation, is approximately 150 miles north of the equator, and can be best described as a mountain tropical rainforest. This study intents to quantify the number of flora and faunal species in San Patricio area to better facilitate our understanding of the ecology and ecological systems present. The focal point of this study is centered at the La Matilde Ecological Center which is approximately 61,000 square meters in size. The species inventory process began in March of 2022 and is ongoing. While there are more species awaiting analysis, currently over 50 species have been positively identified including 21 different species of Lepidoptera alone. It is estimated that as the study progress 100’s of different species will be identified in this area alone, leading to a greater understanding of the delicate ecosystems in the region before they are lost.