ENCANTO DE LOS MANGLARES DEL BAJO BAUDÓ

Rhinoclemmys melanosterna, one of the most common turtle species in the zone. As locals hunt these turtles to eat them, especially during Holy Week, their populations have decreased.

 

Anolis chloris, boulenger's green anole. Same as serpents or other small reptiles, they represent a key link in the food chain of the jungles of Chocó. 

 

Humans seem insignificant next to the power and magnificence of the jungle of Chocó. Nevertheless, in the 'Integrated Management Regional District El Encanto de los Manglares del Bajo Baudó' many areas have been intervened or destroyed.

 

 'River to go and come' is the meaning of Baudó in the language of the noanamá or chanco local indigenous community. Man and canoe, symbols of the landscape in the region.

 

Mangroves give its name to this protected zone. These plants, exposed to the humidity of the river and the heat of the sun, are highly specialized. They are frequently logged because of the many uses given to their wood.

 

The piangua (ark clam) and the piangüeras (women who harvest those clams) are environmental and social values. The consumption and capture of this resource should be controlled, as it already shows signs of shortage.

 

Philander opossum, a marsupial, the gray four-eyed opossum, one of the many small mammals that wander through the jungle. Many are beaten or killed mistakenly taken for rats or mice.

 

Beaches in this part of Chocó have few visitors; only the local population enjoys their beauty. One of the challenges of the protected zone will be the promotion of ecotourism. 

 

Glass frogs are surprising. As they are translucent, all their organs can be seen in action. They are one of this region's biological values, but at the same time a highly trafficked species.

 

Fishing is the subsistence of the communities of the Pacific and, therefore, of this protected area. Its sustainable future will depend on the establishment of appropriate surveillance and control of its resources. 

  

A tree with giant thorns stands out in a hike through the tropical forest. It is in the midst of a mangrove zone, at the mercy of the swaying tides.