In support of the recovery of the Guabinal micro-basin

“We are going to do it with the chair of hydrographic basins with whom we are working on an initial diagnostic phase for which we are using cartography and geographic information systems to know the size of the area to be intervened,” says Professor Hernán Montealegre Monroy from the Girardot branch.

This process will involve collaboration with the Municipality's Directorate of Technical Assistance and Environment (DATMA), university faculty, and students as part of a socially responsible knowledge-generating process that establishes the inputs for project formulation based on a deep understanding of society's needs. "We also want to involve the Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAR), as the goal is to deliver the environmental management plan for this micro-basin by the end of the year, as mandated by the State Council's ruling on the decontamination of the Bogotá River and its tributaries.".

This is not a simple task, as it requires considering a number of variables. “We must study the flora, fauna, soil, climate, geology, and geomorphology, as well as economic and social aspects such as the type of population and the socioeconomic status of those living in the surrounding area. Therefore, several field visits will be necessary.”.

Once the diagnosis is obtained, the formulation stage will begin. “In this phase, we will design how we want the watershed to look in ten or fifteen years. Then we will formulate the environmental management plan, developing projects aimed at comprehensively addressing this problem, and we will explore whether the Regional Autonomous Corporation (CAR) can finance them. This will ensure compliance with the State Council's ruling.”.

Furthermore, it is worth highlighting that this ambitious initiative encompasses the intervention of three micro-watersheds by the university and DATMA. “These are framed within special characteristics such as: being water supply areas, having problems with population settled in these at-risk zones, and the water source showing environmental degradation.”.

In this way, UCundinamarca contributes to the mitigation of climate change as a necessity that is in accordance with Sustainable Development Goals which are part of its environmental policy.

More news from the Girardot branch at the News Agency