Colombia is one of the so-called “megadiverse” countries which host the majority of the world’s living species and are therefore considered as the richest on the planet in terms of biological diversity. Occupying just 0.7% of our planet’s surface, Colombia hosts 10% of global plant and wildlife, making it the second most biodiverse country on the planet.

However, threats to our biodiversity grow more critical with each passing day:

• Destruction of natural spaces to make way for agriculture and particularly pasture for livestock
• Non sustainable use of chemicals and waste generating widespread contamination of ecosystems with plastic
• Rapid and unmanaged growth of urban areas and pointless large-scale projects 

These threats do not only lay heavily on ecosystems and wildlife but also on the millions of Colombians whose daily existence is intrinsically dependent on the services provided by this biodiversity.

In the face of this danger, the reaction of public and private authorities remains wholly inadequate. In 2013, Colombia was among the 40 countries which did the least to protect their plant and wildlife. This situation was reflected by the total absence in 2014 of any national events to raise awareness of the importance of protecting Biodiversity. This is the context in which ColomBIOdiversidad first appeared.

La Colombie est par ailleurs marquée par un contraste très fort entre les villes et les zones rurales. Les habitants citadins sont isolés au quotidien 

Furthermore, there is a significant contrast in Colombia between towns and rural zones. City dwellers are insulated from the realities of daily life.  

It is this need to reconnect with nature which led the Festival to be held as a priority in the main urban centres of the country before moving on to medium-sized towns.