CASE STUDY 7
Colombian Case Study
Agricultural systems are the economic base in Colombia, and cattle occupied about 30% of the land cover. BEPREP case study in Colombia will take place in a livestock area located in the lowlands of the north region of the country. The purpose is to describe environmental characteristics of different land management and its relationship with the distribution of pathogenic microorganisms (Leptospira sp, Rickettsia sp, Plasmodium sp, respiratory and hemorrhagic viruses). Land management included conserved tropical forest, adjacent forested area as a buffer zone), pastures with livestock use, and people inhabited zones with domestic animals. Likewise, it will be performed a knowledge and practices approach checking on topics related to health, conservation of biodiversity and the risk of zoonotic diseases.
RESTORATION &
INTERVENTION MEASURES
Nature restoration
Restoration of wildlife corridors
Rewilding
owl
Public health interventions
No
ENVIRONMENTAL
SAMPLES
Reservoirs
rat
Vectors
mosquito
tick
Environment
water
soil/sediment
Case Study Activities
We are monitoring wild mammal biodiversity on several plots of land with different styles of management, and we are recording the interactions with domestic animals. Our main goal is to detect if wild and domestic fauna are reservoirs of microorganism that could spill on humans in the future. The study area is a livestock farm measuring 4.440 Ha, divided according to land uses in four areas: (1) Forest, (2) Buffer, (3) Pasture, and (4) Human settlement. We are comparing biodiversity indicators in each zone; and, how people under the area of influence of the study recognize the importance of the ecosystem in the human health.
Our study hypothesis is that conserved areas as a forest could provide a dilution effect to human and animals, inside a model sustainable livestock farm. We aim to not only provide information to all other Case Study Areas; also, our findings will be helpful to increase knowledge about conservation, biodiversity and sustainability in a country with an agriculture-based economy.
