Aportes al conocimiento y uso de los ecosistemas subterráneos del municipio de la paz (Santander)

Abstract

La Paz is a municipality located in the Southeast of the department of Santander, in the Andean region of Colombia, which has an extensive network of subterranean systems that has not been satisfactorily explored at the bio-speleological level. The authors confirmed 21 hypogean environments for this area of the department, which were assessed using secondary data and field visits. However, in this study it was established that karstic and biological richness in the municipality is ignored, which was evidenced by the absence of this knowledge in the local people, who mostly recognized the existence of only two caves (El Molino and El Indio). Information regarding fauna and flora associated with these ecosystems is insufficient and limited. Similarly, local authorities responsible for environmental management strategies reported no environmental awareness in the community, or action plans oriented to conservation and use of these hypogean environments.