DESIGN AND CHARACTERIZATION OF THE CONSERVATION CORRIDOR IN THE COAST OF BAY OF SANTA MARTA, COLOMBIA

SUMMARY
Based on previous studies, an ecological corridor was established in the Coast of Bay of Santa Marta, in the Colombian Caribbean region, a program implemented by the FUNDESABANAS CORPORATION. Its objective was to ensure the long-term protection of biodiversity of the Arahuac indigenous territory; a conservation corridor was designed, within an altitudinal gradient from 0m to 850, as an interconnection of mosaics of natural and agroforestry ecosystems. This ecological corridor was designed and characterized, with the objective of prioritizing areas, to propose 32 km2 as natural protected areas type II, according to IUCN standards. This area was evacuated with specific and unique conservation criteria for Colombia and South America. The corridor will be implemented through the establishment of 10 nurseries with a capacity of 3,000 seedlings, produced from native, timber and fruit species for the diversification of agroforestry systems and for the reforestation of critical areas. It is expected that during 2019, it will be declared as protected natural areas, according to administrative decree, of the Arahuac indigenous headquarters.
KEY WORDS: pre-montane and montane forests, certification, conservation, sustainable development.