The Humboldt Institute, a Colombian entity affiliated with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and governed by private law, conducts research on biodiversity and its relationship with human well-being. It began operations in January 1995.
The Humboldt Institute is responsible for conducting basic and applied research on the biotic, hydrobiological, and genetic resources of the country’s flora and fauna. It also prepares and maintains a scientific inventory of biodiversity within the national territory.
One Health: An integrated approach
* This topic is related to COP16 goals 1,3,4,12,13,14,15,20 and 21.
Scientific evidence demonstrates the connection between biodiversity conservation and integrated health among humans, animals, plants, and ecosystems. The Humboldt Institute contributes to the implementation of the One Health approach, working on various fronts such as:
The Humboldt Institute promotes an integrated approach to health through primary health prevention using an environmental surveillance information system, addressing zoonotic disease prevention given that over 70% of emerging infectious diseases have a zoonotic origin, and incorporating ancestral and traditional knowledge to promote intercultural health. Social and gender inclusion are ensured across all initiatives, while capacity building focuses on water as the connecting element of human, animal, and environmental health. Additionally, the Institute addresses the Climate Change-Biodiversity-Health triad through an integrated risk management system.
Biodiversity data
* This topic is related to COP16 goals 7,8,9,10,11,16,17 and 20.
The Institute aims to maintain and improve access to data and information, generating analyses and syntheses that create relevant, impactful, and transformative knowledge for decision-making. Access to biodiversity data and information empowers society to make informed decisions and actively participate in territorial governance.
The Institute has been a significant advocate for the principles of free, open, and collaborative science. It has worked to ensure free access to data, figures, models, and indicators through websites and institutional repositories (such as GeoNetwork, Ceiba, BioModelos, BioTablero, and GitHub repositories), and the coordination of the Colombian Biodiversity Information System. This experience could enhance capacities in other countries.
Success story
Collaboration
The Humboldt Institute coordinates the Biodiversity Information System of Colombia (SiB Colombia), the national network of open data on biodiversity and the country node of GBIF. SiB Colombia unites users and publishers, solidifying its position as a subsystem of the Colombian Environmental Information System (Siac) and aligning with national interests for the democratization of knowledge and informed decision-making.
Strategic Partnership
Ecopetrol
Fibras: Essence and territory
2019 – 2023
- Developed biodiversity plans for six Eco-reserves covering 11,934 hectares.
- First catalogs of microorganisms in Colombia based on metabarcoding.
- 600 camera traps that recorded 223 birds and 54 mammal species, creating regionalized distribution models of prioritized species.
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – Global Environmental Facility (GEF)
Páramos for Life
The project involves intervention in 16 prioritized páramo complexes located in the departments of Boyacá, Cauca, Nariño, Cundinamarca, Tolima, and Santander. The aim is to manage these ecosystems and promote low-impact productive conversion.
Awards and Recognitions
GBIF Node Awards
2023
The Biodiversity Information System (SiB Colombia) received the Award of Excellence in the first edition of the GBIF Node Awards for advancements in scientific and policy support, community engagement, and technical assistance.
Bonds to Sustainability 2023 category Action for Biodiversity
For the project “Urban wildlife on the move: tracking, follow-up, and monitoring of wildlife in the metropolitan territory of the Aburrá Valley” (AMVA + Humboldt Institute).
Collaboration Opportunities
By submitting this form, you express your interest in establishing a bilateral collaboration with our institution or contributing to one of our projects.