Explaining Ecosystem Services

The Tatacoa Desert, in the Huila department, is truly a misnomer, as it really is a dry tropical forest. Regardless, the environment is one of a kind and provides a plethora of services. Water provisions from the Magdalena River irrigate the land to allow animal [of and from cows, goats, horses] and plant [cotton, yucca, tomato, rice, plantain, banana] agriculture. Roots provide soil regulating services to reduce erosion, which would otherwise deplete soil nutrients unlike what we can see here in the Red Desert. The variety in plant species and terrain create a wide range of habitat [a supporting service] that then generates other supporting services like nutrient cycling [in food webs] and biomass and oxygen production [via photosynthesis]. The cultural services are aplenty, including providing an identity to the Huilense who live here and jobs in tourism and agriculture; forms of recreation; astronomical observations; immense sense of place and awe from this alien-like landscape; and a sense of pride for Colombians. This capítulo/episode of 'El Mundo Animal con Max Rodriguez' [Señal Colombia] explores the Gila Monster from the Sonora Desert but the puppetry was filmed in the Red Desert. Education is an additional cultural service.