Conserving Colombia's Endangered Ceiba Barrigona Tree Ahead of COP16

In Colombia's Chicamocha Canyon, botanists are undertaking significant efforts to conserve the ceiba barrigona tree, a unique species found only in this location and classified as endangered. This initiative is part of a broader global effort to protect endangered tree species ahead of the COP16 biodiversity summit.

The ceiba barrigona tree's conservation is vital as it represents one of the many endemic species in Colombia, a country known for its rich biodiversity. With 1,148 endemic tree species, Colombia ranks third globally, following Brazil and Mexico.

The conservation of unique species like the ceiba barrigona tree is vital for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health, which has a direct impact on human well-being and the planet's ecological balance. Failure to protect these species can lead to irreversible damage to ecosystems, loss of medicinal resources, and decreased food security.

Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI) has been leading a global initiative to evaluate the conservation status of tree species since 2015. This initiative has involved 60 institutional partners and over 500 experts. The first findings, published in September 2021, revealed that there are at least 58,497 tree species worldwide, with 23,631 species found in the neotropics, including parts of Mexico, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.

One of the main challenges in conserving tree species is the lack of specialized botanists, particularly taxonomists who can identify, describe, and classify plant species. Colombia, for example, has only 30-40 botanists who have focused on plant studies in the last century. This shortage of experts has hindered efforts to gather comprehensive data on tree species, which is vital for effective conservation.

Cristina López Gallego, a professor at the University of Antioquia and co-coordinator of the plant specialist group of Colombia in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), highlighted the general lack of awareness about the plight of tree species. "Many people don't even know what's happening with trees, or that there are many species that are threatened," she said.

Key Takeaways

• Colombia's ceiba barrigona tree is endangered and conservation efforts are underway.
• Colombia ranks 3rd globally with 1,148 endemic tree species, highlighting its rich biodiversity.
• Conserving unique species like ceiba barrigona is crucial for ecosystem health and human well-being.
• There are at least 58,497 tree species worldwide, with 23,631 in the neotropics.
• Lack of specialized botanists hinders tree species conservation efforts, particularly in Colombia.