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The Paramo de Sumapaz is an extremely biodiverse grassland-peatland ecosystem at high altitude in the xxx mountains. The Paramo experiences low intensity rainfall and frequent fog, which the vegetation captures and stores. Soil moisture is also kept high by the hydraulic connectivity of the soil and acts as a key regulator of surface runoff production. At the foot of the hillslopes and the bottom of valleys, organic rich soils and cushion plants maintain saturated conditions. On hillslopes, freely draining soils and tussock grass conduce lateral flow and connectivity with the channel network, as well as both deep soil horizons and shallow groundwater which drain via riparian areas into streams.

The densely populated area of Bogota depend on the surface and shallow subsurface water of the Paramo as a main source for human consumption, industrial uses and hydropower generation, using the high altitude of the Paramo and gravity to work as a ‘natural water tower’. The land is used for livelihood, wellbeing, and holds immense historic spiritual significance, however intensive livestock grazing, cultivation and forest plantations including anthropic introduction of fire, have negatively affected the water availability and quality, and biodiversity. Livestock grazing and exotic species introduction have increased soil density and reduced soil porosity, resulting in increased evaporation, reduced hydrological regulation capacity and subsequent reduced yield. The functional mechanisms of the Paramo are not fully understood and they remain distinctly under researched, leading to interventions which have been ineffective or detrimental.

Citizen science and participatory monitoring has been found to be an effective tool for generating locally relevant knowledge on the function, use, degradation and management of the Paramo, as well as remote sensing.

Extremeley biodiverse High altitude, compared to settlements, mean they act as 'natural water towers'- water sourced by gravity

Grassland-peatland biome

Used for livelihoods and wellbeing - intensive livestock, cultivation and land management practices negatively affect Paramos' biodiversity, functional capactiy and water yield.

Spiritual landscapes

Main source of water – crop cultivation, grazing ‘unique source of untapped genetic diversity’ Functioning of paramo is not fully understood – without knowledge, interventions designed for sustainability could be ineffective or detrimental

Capture store atmospheric water

Socio-ecological systems shaped by human populations

Densely populated areas depend on surface and shallow subsurface water for human consumption, industrial uses and hydropower generation – BUYTAERT ET AL 2006

Surface water is particularly succeptible to the potential changes in land use and land cover – leading to lower water availability and quality

HIGH LEVEL OF FRAGMENTATION – historic dynamic landscape, changes in isolation and connectivity defined by complex topography

Surrounded by low intensity rainfall and frequent fog Hydrological response of paramo is strongly related to soil conditions - hydraulic conductivity of soil keeps soil moisture high - Soils are important regulators of runoff production (Harden 2006)

Organic rich soils are at foot of hill slopes and bottom of valleys- covered in cushion plants, saturated conditions Freely drainig soils on hillslopes under cover of tussock grass In periods of heavier rainfall, contributing areas of paramo to run off ecxpands and increases connectivity with lateral flow from hillslopes.

Framing the Páramo through Latour’s Actor–Network Theory reveals its role within a network of non-human actors that intertwines social, political, and ecological dimensions (Latour,1996). Ecologically, the Páramo functions as a vital hydrological system, capturing mist at high elevations in the mountainous regions bordering Bogotá, transforming it into water that feeds downstream rivers (Baruffol,2020). This process establishes a chain of interconnections that extend beyond ecology into the social and political sphere. The water originating from the Páramo becomes a site of contention, as industrial actors, such as mining and waste management operations, seek to exploit these natural resources under regulatory frameworks, while communities in Bogotá depend on the same waters for sustenance. Thus, the Páramo operates not merely as an ecological entity but as a dynamic network that transcends its physical boundaries, shaping the political and social landscapes it touches.

The Páramo also extends into the spiritual and cultural sphere, where it is regarded as a sacred landscape that sustains both ecological and social life. Within many Andean communities, the Páramo is conceived as a living entity imbued with ancestral and spiritual significance, symbolising balance, renewal, and the interdependence between humans and nature (de la Torre et al., 2018). Its mist and waters are often perceived as gifts from the mountains, reinforcing communal rituals, local cosmologies, and moral responsibilities toward environmental stewardship (Ulloa, 2017; Escobar, 2020). In this sense, the Páramo’s influence transcends its ecological function, becoming a sacred social actor that shapes collective identity, ethical practice, and the cultural continuity of those who inhabit its landscapes (Bastien, 2013).

Bibliography

Baruffol, M. (no date) Andean ‘water sponges’: The role of plants in water supply, Kew. Available at: https://www.kew.org/read-and-watch/paramos-andean-water-sponges (Accessed: 07 November 2025).

https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/paraguas

UK CENTRE FOR ECOLOGY AND HYDROLOGY https://www.ceh.ac.uk/our-science/projects/paraguas