The Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM), Colombia is possibly the wetland that has experienced the largest mangrove mortality on record due to modification of hydrologic connectivity and consequent hypersaline conditions. We used hydroclimatic, salinity and mangrove basal area data collected in five stations from 1993 to 2015 to study the relation between ongoing mangrove recovery, changes in salinity in the wetland and hydroclimatic changes in precipitation, potential evapotranspiration and freshwater inputs. We found that until 2015, the mangrove ecosystems in CGSM are in general terms in a path of recovery due to the combined effect of favorable hydroclimatic conditions and management operations to increase freshwater inputs into the wetland. We observed in three stations that the annual growth of mangrove basal area increased as pore water salinity decreased. Regarding surface water salinity, El Niño/Southern Oscillation explained most of the inter-annual variability in the wet season by regulating freshwater and in the dry season by regulating potential evaporation from the wetland. However, persistent channel reopening appeared to be the cause for the largest salinity decreases, whereas lack of persistent dredging slowed recovery in other areas. The monitoring of the mangrove-salinity-hydroclimate system must continue in order to increase its understanding and to avoid more recurring episodes of mangrove mortality.

Seagrass meadows are important ecosystems due to their high productivity and ecological value among tropical ecosystems, because of their high species diversity. In Colombia seagrasses are located around some islands, oceanic coral banks and along the Caribbean shelf, mainly in La Guajira Department, where more than 80% of the seagrass meadows of the country are present. In the world, the delimitation of this ecosystem has been successfully mapped during years, with assistance of remote sensing, using satellite image of different spatial scales. Nevertheless, the specific environmental conditions in La Guajira, such as high water turbidity and reduced light penetration restrict the use of traditional satellite images employed for those seascapes. With the aim of delimiting and establishing the extension of seagrass meadows in La Guajira, based on analyses between July 2013 and February 2014, a methodology of massive image interpretation that included fieldwork fast verification was applied, generating as a result one layer of seagrass habitats in Cabo de La Vela – Dibulla area at 1:100000 scale. Methodology included geometric correction, image fusion, fieldwork information, definition of thematic classes, determining of criteria for spatial delimitation, visual interpretation of images, thematic uncertainty qualification, and final cartography production. The process of cartographic production showed that Landsat 8 OLI satellite sensor images made easier the identification of seagrass meadows in deep areas (>10m). In total, 53621 ha of seagrass meadows were identified, and the largest meadows of Colombia were delimitated, which reach dimensions of up to 6018 ha.

Se determinó el potencial aviturístico en el Parque Boca de Guacamaya a partir del enfoque de los servicios ecosistémicos (SE). Para la valoración del potencial aviturístico se empleó una matriz de SE mediante la cual se definieron una serie de factores y criterios relacionados con la oferta y la demanda del aviturismo en el área de estudio. La oferta se valoró en términos de las especies y condiciones presentes en los diferentes tipos de cobertura del suelo. La demanda se valoró teniendo en cuenta la percepción de los actores locales acerca de la importancia de los tipos de cobertura para la provisión de SE. Para la cuantificación de estos criterios se realizaron registros de aves en campo y se emplearon herramientas de la investigación participativa. Los valores obtenidos para los criterios fueron normalizados a una escala relativa (no relevante a muy alto) e interconectados a los tipos de cobertura para producir los mapas de oferta y demanda del SE de aviturismo. Como resultado se identificaron 129 especies distribuidas en 18 órdenes y 38 familias. Se registró la presencia de una especie endémica (Ortalis garrula), una especie casi endémica (Chauna chavaria) y categorizada como casi amenazada (NT) a nivel global y vulnerable (VU) a nivel nacional, y de 33 especies migratorias, confirmando el potencial del parque para el desarrollo del aviturismo. El manglar y los pantanos resultaron ser las coberturas que presentan las mejores condiciones y albergan el mayor número de especies de interés para el aviturismo.