Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico

This executive summary evaluates the current scientific knowledge regarding the effects of climate change on the biodiversity of the tropical Andes. It identifies the region as a global biodiversity hotspot with high levels of endemism, particularly in cloud forests and high-altitude ecosystems. The document details how rising temperatures, shifting precipitation patterns, and habitat fragmentation threaten species' survival and the ecosystem services—such as water regulation and food security—upon which over 40 million people depend. It advocates for adaptive management, the creation of connected conservation corridors, and increased inter-institutional coordination to mitigate these risks.

• The tropical Andes are a global biodiversity hotspot characterized by extreme species richness and high endemism, with the highest total species richness found in evergreen forests on the lower eastern slopes and adjacent lowlands near the equator, while the highest endemism occurs in cloud forests just below the treeline.
• Endemism in the region is widespread, with 25-50% of species in most taxonomic groups being endemic, including 30% of mosses, 25% of vascular plants, 40% of fish, and 28% of birds.
• Climate change and land-use alterations pose a risk of mass extinction comparable to the 5-6 major geological extinction events. Species at higher altitudes and mountain peaks are at greater risk because they have no further areas to migrate to as temperatures rise.
• Observed historical climate trends over the last 45 years show a general decrease in annual precipitation (with exceptions in the Colombian Western Cordillera, southern Ecuador, and parts of southern Peru) and an increase in both annual maximum and minimum temperatures across nearly all tropical Andes.
• Climate projections suggest that low-altitude glaciers in the Andes could completely disappear within the next 10 to 20 years due to the rise of the zero-degree isotherm and general tropospheric warming.
• Over 40 million people rely on tropical Andean ecosystems for fresh water, food, and other services. Climate change threatens the functionality of these ecosystems, specifically water provisioning and regulation for major cities like Bogotá, Quito, and Lima, as well as regional hydroelectric power generation.
• Cloud forests are identified as priority ecosystems for protection but are highly vulnerable; as global warming raises the cloud base, these forests are forced to shift to higher altitudes where available land is scarcer, reducing their overall extent.
• Effective conservation requires adaptive management and the creation of protected areas that include broad environmental gradients and are connected by corridors to allow species to migrate. Currently, only Colombia has explicitly incorporated climate change into its conservation planning.
• Significant institutional gaps hinder conservation efforts, including limited inter-institutional coordination, a shortage of technically trained scientists and policymakers, and a 'brain drain' where advanced degree holders find few employment opportunities in the region, except in Colombia.

APA

Herzog, S. K., Jørgensen, P. M., Güingla, R. M., Martius, C., Anderson, E. P., Hole, D. G., Larsen, T. H., Marengo, J. A., Carrascal, D. R., & Tiessen, H. (2010). Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf

Chicago

Herzog, Sebastian K., Peter M. Jørgensen, Rodney Martínez Güingla, Christopher Martius, Elizabeth P. Anderson, David G. Hole, Trond H. Larsen, et al. Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico. Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, 2010. https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Herzog |first1=Sebastian K. |last2=Jørgensen |first2=Peter M. |last3=Güingla |first3=Rodney Martínez |last4=Martius |first4=Christopher |last5=Anderson |first5=Elizabeth P. |last6=Hole |first6=David G. |last7=Larsen |first7=Trond H. |last8=Marengo |first8=José A. |last9=Carrascal |first9=Daniel Ruiz |display-authors=etal |title=Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico |publisher=Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research |date=2010 |url=https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{herzog2010efectos, author = {Herzog, Sebastian K. and Jørgensen, Peter M. and Güingla, Rodney Martínez and Martius, Christopher and Anderson, Elizabeth P. and Hole, David G. and Larsen, Trond H. and Marengo, José A. and Carrascal, Daniel Ruiz and Tiessen, Holm}, title = {{Efectos del cambio climático en la biodiversidad de los Andes tropicales: el estado del conocimiento científico}}, institution = {Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research}, year = {2010}, url = {https://iai.int/admin/site/sites/default/files/uploads/2014/06/sintesis_cientifica.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }