The National Natural Park (PNN) Tatamá is one of the 58 National protected areas administered by National Natural Parks of Colombia. Inside, three of the region’s strategic terrestrial ecosystems are represented: Páramo, Tropical Rainforest and Andean Forest, the latter considered as one of the most mejadiverse ecosystems in the country and the world. The PNN Tatamá is located in the southern part of the Western Cordillera of Colombia, between the tectonic pits of the Cauca River to the east and the San Juan River to the west; a confluence area of the municipalities of Pueblo Rico, Apía, Santuario and La Celia, in the department of Risaralda, El Águila in the department of Valle del Cauca, and San José del Palmar and Tadó in the department of Chocó.
The National Natural Park (PNN) Tatamá is one of the 58 National protected areas administered by National Natural Parks of Colombia. Inside, three of the region’s strategic terrestrial ecosystems are represented: Páramo, Tropical Rainforest and Andean Forest, the latter considered as one of the most mejadiverse ecosystems in the country and the world. The PNN Tatamá is located in the southern part of the Western Cordillera of Colombia, between the tectonic pits of the Cauca River to the east and the San Juan River to the west; a confluence area of the municipalities of Pueblo Rico, Apía, Santuario and La Celia, in the department of Risaralda, El Águila in the department of Valle del Cauca, and San José del Palmar and Tadó in the department of Chocó. It covers an area of 51,900 hectares and includes heights ranging from 2,000 to 4,250 meters above sea level, the highest point of the Western Cordillera known as the Tatamá hill.
According to the regulations in force at the time, it was declared as the Natural National Park through the Executive Resolution of the Ministry of Agriculture No. 190 of October 19, 1987, which approves the INDERENA Agreement No. 0045 of December 20, October 1986, “with the purpose of conserving flora, fauna, natural scenic beauty, geomorphological complexes, cultural ethical manifestations, with scientific, educational, recreational or aesthetic purposes” (Resolution No. 190 of 1987). From Decree 622 of 1977 and taking into account the definition of the categories of protected areas of the IUCN, PNT Tatamá is Category II of the IUCN (Decree 622/77, Dudley, 2008).
This area is protected by a topography with very steep slopes, deep valleys and sharp edges. It is a mountainous territory in natural state where the numerous rivers are born and the origin to its name of the Embera indigenous people, language in which it means Tatamá El Abuelo de los Ríos. In this hydrographic star are born 15 important rivers that represent more than 50% of the flow of the San Juan River, and supply the water requirements of a vast region of the department of Chocó. Its topography, added to the climatic conditions, harbors diverse ecosystems and species among which are the last virgin páramos of the planet, high Andean forests, Andean, and sub Andean, tropical forest Cauca-Pacific, populations of plants of the family Magnoliaceae, the Andean bear (Tremarctos ornatus) and the Bangsia de Tatamá (Bangsia auerocincta), objects of conservation of the protected area.
The geographical location and its excellent state of conservation, -with more than 90% of the area in natural Andean forests on both slopes-, make Tatamá a protected area of high scientific interest, which constitutes an intact natural refuge for many plant and animal species. . In addition, the PNN Tatamá is a regional strategic node that contributes to social and economic development, especially in relation to the environmental management of the territory and the integration of the communities located there, as it is a point of intercultural confluence of Black and Indigenous communities in the slope of the Pacific (high and middle basin of the San Juan River) and mestizos paisas in the slope of the Cauca river.
From this perspective, the Park has set as its conservation objective: “To conserve the ecosystems of the páramo, high Andean, Andean and sub-Andean forests of the Tatamá National Natural Park for the survival of species of flora and fauna, goods and ecosystem services, as a contribution to the ordering environmental and support the connectivity of regional conservation scenarios and in the Pacific and Cauca slopes associated with historical, social and cultural elements “.
