BIODIVERSITY PROTECTION
Prevention of illicit trafficking in flora and fauna in Colombia
In Colombia, the Penal Code establishes prison sentences of 48 to 108 months for the illegal exploitation of wild fauna and flora and a fine of 35 thousand legal monthly minimum wages for anyone who appropriates, introduces, exploits, transports, maintains, traffics, trades, explores, exploits or benefits from specimens, products or parts of the fauna, forest, flora, hydrobiological, biological or genetic resources of Colombia’s biodiversity.
The penalty shall be increased from one third to one half, when the species are categorized as endangered, at risk of extinction or migratory, rare or endemic to the Colombian territory.
The foreigner who performs within the national territory any unauthorized act of exploitation, exploitation, exploration or extraction of natural resources, shall incur a prison term of sixty-four (64) to one hundred and forty-four months (144) and a fine of one hundred and thirty-three point thirty-three (133.33) to forty-five thousand (45,000) legal minimum wages in force.
Tresor Colombien applies the criteria established in the sectoral technical standard for sustainable tourism NTS-TS 003, for which makes known to its employees, suppliers and customers the prohibitions on prevention of illicit trafficking of biodiversity:
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Collect, commercialize and traffic animal or plant species that do not have the respective permits and licenses granted by the competent environmental authorities.
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Commercializing or consuming species or products derived from prohibited flora and fauna or according to prohibitions established by law.
Biodiversity Figures in Colombia
It is difficult to estimate the total number of species living in Colombia, but it is possible to have an idea of the known diversity in each biological group for which data exists.
The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development is the institution in Colombia in charge of Integral Biodiversity Management, which comprises the processes through which actions for the conservation (preservation, use and restoration) of biodiversity and ecosystem services are planned, executed and monitored in a defined social and territorial scenario in order to maximize social welfare.
Colombia's Biodiversity Information System SIB
SiB Colombia is a reality thanks to the participation of dozens of organizations and individuals who share data and information under the principles of free access, cooperation, transparency, recognition and shared responsibility.
SiB Colombia is a country initiative that aims to provide free access to information on the country’s biological diversity for the construction of a sustainable society. It facilitates the online publication of biodiversity data and information and its access to a wide variety of audiences, supporting the comprehensive management of biodiversity in a timely and efficient manner. It was born with Decree 1603 of 1994 as part of the process of creating the National Environmental System (SINA), established in Law 99 of 1993.
