Colombia’s glaciers, particularly in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, are rapidly disappearing due to climate change. Local communities, like those of Edilsa Ibañéz Ibañéz, rely on these glaciers for water, with predictions that some glaciers may vanish within the next few years. The loss poses significant threats to water supply and environmental heritage, while local researchers emphasize the need for studies to adapt to a glacier-less future.
At an elevation of 4,200 meters in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, Colombia, Edilsa Ibañéz Ibañéz, a local guide, reflects on her childhood experiences of drinking water from glacial streams, now threatened by significant glacial loss. “We used to think the ice would be eternal,” she laments, highlighting the alarming reality that glaciers in Colombia are rapidly disappearing, with over 90% of their mass lost since the 19th century.
The Sierra Nevada del Cocuy is among the last six glaciers remaining in Colombia, and it still harbors around 36% of the country’s glacial ice. However, the landscape is drastically altered; exposed rock replaces once-snow-covered terrains. Stone markers, akin to gravestones, denote previous snow lines, indicating a worrying trend of retreating glaciers, with the most distant marker in the 19th century positioned kilometers away from the remaining ice.
Sadly, the conditions facing the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy are not unique, as global warming and erratic weather patterns affect all Colombian glaciers. The situation is dire, especially after Venezuela was reported to be the first nation to lose all its glaciers completely in 2024. Experts predict that Colombia’s glaciers could face a similar fate within three decades.
Professor Mathias Vuille, a climate scientist, asserts that eliminating greenhouse gas emissions in the coming years will not suffice to restore the glaciers, as they no longer acquire fresh snow and ice; they are effectively doomed. The glacier Santa Isabel is projected to vanish first, potentially disappearing in the next five years. Community members like Matteo Giraldo express sorrow over the changes, having witnessed significant glacier retraction in just a few months.
As glaciers melt, they pose an immediate threat to water availability for high-altitude communities that depend on them for freshwater. Vuille mentions that the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy alone provides a vast reservoir of water, equivalent to approximately 256,000 Olympic swimming pools. The melting glaciers are essential to sustain the water supply for the local population, which heavily relies on this resource.
Ibañéz’s community, living at the foot of the Sierra Nevada, is acutely aware of the impending water shortage, with concerns articulated by her brother, community leader Hernando Ibañéz Ibañéz. He states, “Right now, I have 250 families dependent on one aqueduct,” fearing it may soon run dry, thus threatening the livelihood of future generations.
The decline of glaciers indicates a broader crisis for Colombia and its water supply, exacerbated by droughts affecting urban areas like Bogotá. Unique ecosystems known as páramos, which play a role in water retention, are increasingly vulnerable due to glacier loss and environmental threats like agricultural expansion and wildfires.
Researchers, such as Jorge Luis Ceballos, emphasize that while the glaciers continue to decline, there is a lack of understanding regarding the impact of this loss on Colombia’s páramo ecosystems. The drastic changes witnessed compel the need for further studies on how to adapt to a future devoid of glaciers.
Ceballos acknowledges the inevitable disappearance of glaciers, signifying a loss that transcends mere water, representing the environmental heritage of the region. Local families, including Doris Ibañéz Cristancho’s, support scientific efforts to monitor glacial decline while reflecting on how they will miss the once-thriving peaks that adorned their landscapes. “Every peak you can see from here, you see it diminished. I feel deeply nostalgic seeing how they are deteriorating,” she states, echoing the collective sentiment of fear and loss felt by local communities.
The glaciers of Colombia, particularly in the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy, face imminent extinction due to climate change and environmental degradation. The rapid decline of these glaciers, which are vital for local water supplies, signals a broader crisis affecting the entire country’s ecosystems and communities. As water resources diminish, the need for urgent action and sustainable practices becomes critical to safeguard the livelihoods of those reliant on these essential resources.
Original Source: www.theguardian.com
