Strategy to determine the existence of small-scale wetlands in tropical Andean zones (Colombia)

Abstract

The Flandes community, in Tolima, Colombia, has proposed the protection of an ephemeral wetland that has been an object of interest for developers, who, by means of a simple drainage and using the dry season to their advantage, may convert a seasonal wetland into an urban area. The object of this investigation was to demonstrate that said water body may be recovered, as a protection zone, at request of the Flandes community. This matter was approached from multiple biophysical points of view. The results indicate that it is a seasonal wetland, geological examination reveals the presence of clay lenses, historical reconstruction of aerial photos indicate the existence of the wetlands, and the presence of phytoplankton and diatoms is evident. These factors indicate the existence, in past ages, of aquatic and ground-based organisms. The result of this study was the creation of a successful methodology for the determination of the existence of wetlands in small-scale Andean tropical areas, for their possible recovery and use by urban planners.

Keywords

• wetlands
• habitat transformation
• urban planning
• land use planning