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When I receive invitations to participate in projects that involve field expeditions as a photographer and biologist, or those that are part of my research projects, I am always filled with a great emotion that I cannot hide, due to my interest by nature; especially if it is Colombia. It does not matter if it is a remote place in the Amazon jungle or if it is in a place close to my place of residence, there will always be a new story to tell and unique moments to enjoy, share, study, photograph and, above all, learn and value.

Regularly, the work implies interacting with multidisciplinary teams of wonderful people with high professional quality: researchers and university professors (geologists, biologists, sociologists, etc), local guides, and inhabitants of the territory. I have had the opportunity to share unforgettable experiences in magical regions with highly conserved ecosystems, but also with a high risk of threat or human impact. Here, in the field, I have been able to see first-hand the great work being done by different institutions to consolidate a participative and comprehensive territorial management on the ecological, socio-cultural, and economic aspects of biodiversity.

These are some of the stories told through an amazing journey by Colombia…

BITA RIVER

Mission

Photographer

Year

2016

Project Objective

Gather biological information to support the process by which Bita was declared as the first protected river in Colombia

Orinoco Basin

Colombia

Organizers

 IAvH, Minambiente, Vichada Government, Fundación Omacha 

Collaborators

 WWF, Universidad Nacional, Universidad del Quindio, Universidad de la Guajira, Universidad del Tolima, Flynorth 

87

macroinvertebrados acuáticos

19

anfibios

1474

plantas

201

aves

3

esponjas de agua dulce

87

crustáceos

decápodos

254

peces

Species 

diversity

38

reptiles

63

mamíferos

GUAYABERO RIVER

Mission

Ichthyologist and Photographer

Year

2018

Project Objective

 Contribute to the biological evaluation of the Natural Park Sierra de la Macarena

Orinoco Basin

Colombia

Organizers

 IAvH, Minambiente, Cormacarena

Collaborators

 Universidad de la Salle, Mikolji.com, Universidad de los Andes,  Universidad Nacional, Universidad del Quindio, Universidad de la Guajira, Instituto SINCHI, Biophotonature, Fundación Omacha, Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, Universidad del Tolima, Universidad de Ibagué, Drexel University, Ecoamen

114 

macroinvertebrados acuáticos

39

anfibios

62

ficoperifiton

737

aves

20

algas epífitas

242

peces

Species 

diversity

68

reptiles

31

mamíferos

IR30 BAJO CAGUÁN

Mission

Ichthyologist and Fish Photographer 

Year

2018

Project Objective

 Establishment of a conservation figure
regional of 779,857 hectares with direct use by indigenous and peasant communities that inhabit this landscape. Maintain a natural ecological corridor that connects the plant and animal communities of two important natural parks in the Colombian Amazon - the PNN Serranía de Chiribiquete and La Paya -

Amazonas Basin

Colombia

Organizers

 The Field Museum, Fundación para la Conservación y el Desarrollo Sostenible

Collaborators

PNNN de Colombia, WCS, The Nature Conservancy, Corazón de la Amazonía, WWF, Cooperación Alemana, The Amazon Conservation Team, Universidad del Tolima, Universidad de Ibagué, Universidad de la Amazonía, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Universidad Nacional de Colombia, Resguardo Indígena (RI) Uitoto, Cabildo Indígena Uitorá, RI Aguas Negras, ASCAINCA, Asociación Campesina de Núcleo 1 de bajo Caguán, Vereda (V.) La Pizarra, V. Tres troncos, V. La Maná, V. Peregrinos, Corporación Geopatrimonio

55

anfibios

790

plantas

408

aves

139

peces

Species 

diversity

42

reptiles

62

mamíferos

All website content © Copyright Jorge E. García-Melo

SULU 2

Mission

Photographer 

Year

2018

Objective

 Promote a climate-smart planning of the territory that ensures carbon, biodiversity and water regimes in savanna ecosystems and natural grasslands; and achieving sustainable agricultural production.

Orinoco Basin

Colombia

Organizers

WWF, Fundación Omacha

IAvH, Universidad del Tolima, Universidad de Ibagué, Lousiana State University

All website content © Copyright Jorge E. García-Melo

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