Standing on the banks of the Magdalena River, fisherman Enrique Mahecha looks across to the Barbacoas marshes, his voice heavy with concern.
“The threat right now – and it’s no secret – is the expansion of this canal, where the Magdalena River is trying to break into the marsh. If that happens, this village – which depends entirely on the marsh for fishing – will disappear. There are no other sources of income here”.
For more than a decade, communities in the local village of Bocas de Barbacoas have been calling for action to protect their wetland. Yet despite repeated warnings, little has been done. Now, experts and local people warn that time is running out.
Local fishing communities depend on the wetlands for their livelihoods. If the manmade canal expands further, the entire wetland hydrology will be disrupted. Credit: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia (FBC)
“For about ten years, we’ve been fighting to fix the problem, but so far, no government entity has stepped in. There’s been a lot of talk from the environmental agencies, but no real response yet.” Enrique Mahecha, a local fisherman.
A wetland on the brink
The Barbacoas wetlands are one of the best-preserved wetland complexes in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena Valley. Together, they provide a breeding ground for migratory fish, habitat for highly threatened species like the Critically Endangered Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana), and food security for over 7,000 fishing families.
But this ecosystem is under immediate threat from a manmade canal, which is diverting water from the Magdalena River into the Barbacoas wetlands. In 2010, the Magdalena River breached during a flood and since then, erosion – accelerated by both human activity and natural forces – has caused this canal to expand.
If left unchecked, the Magdalena River could soon carve a permanent course directly into the Barbacoas wetland through this canal, with devastating consequences for the local communities and wildlife here.
The canal is already causing an influx of sediments from the Magdalena River into the Barbacoas wetlands. This appeal will support reforestation along the channel’s banks to prevent further erosion. Credit: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia (FBC)
What is at stake
- Wildlife will suffer: The canal is diverting water from the Magdalena River into the Barbacoas wetlands. This water contains a heavy sediment load and is polluted with industrial contaminants and heavy metals. If the canal is not stopped, the uncontrolled flow of water will disrupt the wetland’s natural nutrient cycles, triggering eutrophication – algal blooms and a steep decline in oxygen levels. The result will be catastrophic for wildlife, destroying a critical nursery for fish, manatees, crocodiles, and countless other species that depend on the Barbacoas wetlands to survive.
- The wetland itself will collapse: It could either dry out into a dead arm of the river or flood uncontrollably.
- Communities will lose their lifeline: Fishing, the cultural and economic foundation of Barbacoas, will collapse – threatening food security and livelihoods for thousands across the region.
For hundreds of years, this wetland has sustained a flourishing fishing community and provided a haven for wildlife. All of that is now at stake. Credit: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia (FBC)
A plan for recovery
At World Land Trust (WLT), we are urgently appealing for your support to turn this around. Together, we are working to raise £2,188,483 to support our conservation partner Fundación Biodiversa Colombia (FBC) to expand the El Silencio Reserve and stop the channel’s advance.
With these funds, they will:
- Secure the El Taladro property, which contains the canal and holds the most vulnerable section of riverbank.
- Reforest along the canal with native trees to stabilise the soil, reduce erosion, and allow it to gradually fill in.
- Engage with communities on ecological restoration, environmental education, sustainable fishing, and wetland monitoring. Securing this property will give the communities within Bocas de Barbacoas more control on who can enter and fish within the Barbacoas wetlands.
- Liaise with local authorities to implement engineering works that complement natural restoration and secure long-term stability.
“This crisis requires a combination of ecological restoration and structural solutions,” says Pablo Andrés Muñoz Castrillón, a documentary filmmaker working with FBC.
“We don’t intend to replace the State’s responsibilities but to strengthen them through private conservation – protecting both the ecosystem and the communities who depend on it.”
By supporting our autumn appeal, you can help us expand El Silencio and stop this manmade canal before it’s too late.
