Community awareness regarding the páramos: an exploratory study on Colombian eco-social organizations

Abstract: This qualitative study explores how eco-social organizations in Colombia work with the communities to protect the páramos, and the issues affecting the páramos. Workers, volunteers, and advisors of the organizations were interviewed to examine the issues affecting the páramos and how they work with the communities to protect this ecosystem. Results of this study were analyzed through the environmental justice framework and the eco-social approach and by applying thematic analysis. The findings identified that issues such as climate change, agriculture, and mining are affecting the ecosystem of páramos. The study results also reflected that the community-based conservation approach, community prior knowledge, educating and raising awareness, and the role of eco-social non-governmental organizations play a fundamental role when working alongside the communities to protect the páramos.