Colombia’s glaciers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, have lost over 90% of their ice since the late 19th century. This decline poses a severe risk to water supply for local communities. Experts indicate that climate change is primarily responsible, and if current trends continue, Colombia may face complete glacier loss within decades. Communities are already feeling the effects, with water shortages emerging as a critical concern.
At 4,200 meters in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia, Edilsa Ibañéz is confronted by a stark transformation in her childhood landscape, where she used to drink from glacial streams. “We used to think the ice would be eternal. Now it is not so eternal. Our glaciers are dying,” she laments. The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, which houses about 36% of Colombia’s remaining glacial coverage, has lost over 90% of its ice since the late 1800s.
Dry rock now dominates areas that were once snow-covered. Along the trail to Cóncavo peak, markers indicate the former snow line, with the oldest dating back to the 19th century, showing a significant retreat of glaciers. The current landscape reveals greying ice sliding toward thawing rocks, accompanied by loud cracks from shifting ice within the glacier.
The fate of Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is shared with five other glaciers in Colombia, all facing severe threats due to rising global temperatures. Experts, including Mathias Vuille from the University at Albany, argue that even aggressive reductions in greenhouse gas emissions would not halt this decline. Colombian glaciers, devoid of new snow accumulation, are on a path to extinction, with Santa Isabel glacier predicted to vanish in just five years.
Residents such as Matteo Giraldo, who has observed these changes over 16 years, express deep emotional ties to the glaciers. Giraldo reflects on witnessing the rapid disappearance of the Conejeras section. The loss of glaciers is urgent for communities around high-altitude areas which depend on these ice masses for water supply. Vuille emphasizes that glaciers are crucial, likening them to reservoirs that release vital water resources.
Communities living near the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, including Ibañéz and her family, face imminent water shortages. Hernando Ibañéz Ibañéz highlights the gravity of the situation, with 250 families relying on a single aqueduct that may not last another decade. The loss of glaciers exacerbates Colombia’s broader environmental struggles, evident in the ongoing water rations in urban areas like Bogotá amid historical droughts across Latin America.
Colombia’s páramos, high-altitude ecosystems, play a critical role in the water supply system and are closely linked to glacier health. Though some páramos receive meltwater from glaciers, their future is uncertain due to glacier loss. Jorge Luis Ceballos from Ideam labels the glacier loss as a major environmental indicator, signaling broader ecological changes, both within glaciers and in the páramos.
The disappearance of glaciers raises concerns over the sustainability of páramo ecosystems heavily impacted by climate change and agricultural practices. Fires have also adversely affected these regions, such as the recent destruction of over 500 hectares in Boyacá. Scientific studies continue to document glacier decline, aiming to provide insights on adaptive strategies for the future without glaciers.
Despite ongoing research, the inevitable extinction of Colombia’s glaciers looms large. Ceballos articulates the community’s sentiment, stating, “We feel this loss. When we lose a glacier, it’s not just water. It is also a loss of environmental heritage.” Doris Ibañéz Cristancho, from a long-time local family, expresses nostalgia about the diminishing peaks and anticipates their fading significance, fearing that memories may soon be all that remain of Colombia’s majestic glaciers.
The article outlines the significant decline of glaciers in Colombia, particularly in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, where over 90% of the ice has been lost since the 19th century. The disappearance of these glaciers threatens vital water sources for local communities that depend on them. Rising temperatures and climate change contribute to this crisis, leading to uncertain futures for both human populations and unique ecosystems like the páramos. Immediate action and research are needed to address and adapt to these changes before it’s too late.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
