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Spread across more than 720 sq km on the northwestern part of Colombia, the Los Katios National Park is contiguous to the Darien National Park in the neighbouring country of Panama. Though located in South America, the region is considered a major convergence zone of North, Central, and South America. It is because of this very reason that the Park offers a startling variety of flora and fauna. Spanning hills, tropical and humid forests, alluvial plains, swamps, and marshes, it has an unusual ecological setting that nurtures more than 600 species of vegetation, including palms and several others endemic to the region. It shows exceptional biodiversity in terms of fauna too, with many threatened species calling the place - their home.

Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994, the Park was placed on the Danger List in 2009 due to the severe damage it suffered because of illegal poaching, fishing, and logging. However, continued patrolling and engagement with local communities in preserving the habitat paid off, and the Park was removed from the list in 2015.

Wildlife

The Park is part of one of the most species-rich lowland forest areas in the world. Small wonder it nurtures a wide range of fauna. The area is said to have more than 550 species of vertebrates, excluding fish and including more than 400 species of birds. It is believed to be the only region on the continent where many Central American species are found. This includes the threatened American crocodile, giant anteater, and Central American tapir also known as Baird's tapir. Among other species that can be spotted here are the jaguar, west Indian manatee, bush dog, deer, rodents such as coypu and wild mouse, fox, bear, monkey, and marmoset. Among the birds that can be seen here are tinamous, New World passerine birds, shrikes, quails, humming birds, warblers, doves, macaws, pittas, and puffbirds, in addition to the harpy eagle, northern screamer, and the great currasow.

Threats

The region requires close monitoring even today since concerns in the form of illegal and development activities remain. In fact, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature's latest assessment (2020), the conservation outlook for this site is of "significant concern". Placing the park on danger list all those years ago did help improve the situation in the region, and some of the efforts continue to be in place. But of utmost concern is the illegal and excess use of legal natural resources. The continuous unsustainable depletion of resources could affect both flora and fauna of the place in the long run. This includes fishing and shellfish harvesting on a scale that may not be sustainable in the future. Security of the property was a concern earlier, and steps were initiated to improve that. However, despite that, illegal activities around the property and the presence of armed groups within it have been reported. Though they do not appear to pose any threat right now, it could later on, if left unchecked. Proposed developmental projects such as roads and power transmission corridors do not suggest "acute threat" yet, but "adequate environmental and social assessment are required to ensure that the natural environment of the property are not damaged in any way if and when these projects are executed.

Picture Credit : Google

Located almost on the edge of Bulgaria in Europe, the Srebarna Nature Reserve is a freshwater lake and wetland, just a couple of km south of the famous Danube River. Spread across more than 600 hectares, the wetland falls on the route of birds migrating from Europe to Africa. It is said to be the breeding ground for nearly 100 species of birds, including some rare and endangered ones. In addition, it is a temporary habitat for over 75 species that migrate. The floating reed islands (called "kochki" locally) and flooded willow woodlands in the Reserve are important areas for birds to breed. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was placed on the danger list in 1992, due to loss of water and pollution in the lake, resulting in the disappearance of many bird species. However, upstream activities such as housing and farming were halted, bringing about positive changes in the region. Eventually, in 2003, the Reserve was removed from the danger list. The region is also protected as a Wetland of International Importance under the Ramsar Convention and designated as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International.

Wildlife

The Srebarna Nature Reserve is said to host the only colony of Dalmatian pelicans in the country. It is also believed to be home to the largest breeding populations of four more globally threatened bird species, namely pygmy cormorant, ferruginous duck, white-tailed eagle, and corncrake. Among others birds that can be spotted in the region are night heron, purple heron, glossy ibis, white spoonbill, little bittern, squacco heron, little egret, great white egret, and ruddy shelduck. Three species of terns can also be found here. The globally threatened red-breasted goose winters in the reserve. The wintering populations of whitefronted goose, greylag goose, and fieldfare are considered notable. The lake and the areas around it also support more than 20 species of reptile and amphibian species, and 40 mammal species.

Good conservation status, but...

While globally a lot of natural wildlife habitats face several threats-both natural and human-made, Srebarna is one of those rare spaces that enjoys a good conservation status, "with some concerns", according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). According to IUCN's 2020 Conservation Outlook, there "is an overall trend of improvement of the conservation status of most of the bird populations". Given that the region is very important for birds, it is heartening that the population of some species has increased since it was removed from the danger list.

However, the place is not without concerns. For instance, the conservation status of species such as squacco heron and black tern has deteriorated. Also, "additional information is needed to make reliable assessments of the conservation state" of a few other species. Other concerns, including hydrological management, may not be a severe threat right now, but it is felt that with issues such as climate change looming large, these could affect Srebarna in the future.

Climate change is likely to decrease the water level of the Danube, resulting in the disruption of seasonal flooding in Srebarna. This has the potential to change the quality and quantity of nutrients, sediments, etc. in the region, and lead to a drastic ecological change, affecting both the flora and fauna there.

Picture Credit : Google