Páramo: what it is, characteristics, flora, fauna and threats

A paramo is a high mountain ecosystem, known because it is flat and has low vegetation. Due to its location, the characteristics of the moors are very particular and are the following:

• On average they rise to more than 2 thousand meters above sea level.
• They are flat and wide plains.
• They usually have high humidity.
• There are strong winds, which generate wind erosion on the ground.
• The soil is acidic and not very fertile.
• Aquifers such as wetlands, swamps, temporary pools or groundwater are related to them.

We can find moorlands almost all over the world, and they are usually given a name for each one, which is as follows:

• Andean tropical paramo: it is found in America, in countries such as Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela and Peru. In this case, it is located between the snow zone and the tropical region.
• Tropical montane wasteland: these are also found near the tropics, but in Africa.
• British moor: It is located in England, New Zealand, Scotland and Ireland, almost always near ravines that overlook the sea.
• Iberian moor: located in Spain.

The climate of the paramos varies depending on the region of the planet in which they are located. Those that are tropical moors, such as the Andean and African ones, have a cold tropical climate, while the British ones are temperate.

However, what they do have in common is that they all have constant rain, a lot of wind and high humidity.

There is the idea that the moors are inhospitable places, but the reality is that they house biodiversity that is very well adapted to acidic and poor soils, which gives them admirable richness.

In general, the flora of the moors is short and very resistant. The truth is that tall trees do not grow, and in certain areas there may not be any vegetation growing at all. Some types of paramo plants are:

• Grasslands
• Thickets
• leathery bushes
• Heathlands
• Frailejonales
• Mosses
• Asteraceae
• Thyme
• Bearberry

The fauna of the moors varies from place to place, although birds usually dominate due to the possibility of coming and going more easily, although reptiles and mammals can also be found. Cases of endemism are also common, thanks to the unique conditions from which they can benefit.

Some examples of paramo animals are:

• Curlews
• Dupont’s Lark
• Bustards
• Calenders
• moor rabbit
• Eagles
• Mice

• The moors are related to water reserves, which can be above ground or underground. Thus, these areas function as large warehouses and transporters of water to other basins.
• On the other hand, these ecosystems are a transition zone between ecosystems, allowing biodiversity to adapt more easily.
• Additionally, moors are important because they provide resources for local communities, which may struggle to find goods in such conditions. In high biodiversity moors, they are extremely important for human survival.

The moors are not exempt from threats.

• In addition to being a space for high mountain species, human communities have also been established and, with this, the high burden of exploitation has arrived, among which we have overgrazing or for crops typical of the cold such as potatoes or oats.
• On the other hand, mining, oil and gas industries have also been established.
• Finally, the moors could change their dynamics due to climate change. As global temperature increases, it will also increase in the moors and biodiversity would be altered.

Many paramos are located within protected natural areas, regulated by federal laws, to promote their conservation. Within these laws, the passage of tourists is regulated, the activities that can be carried out within it, and above all, it is protected against the extraction of natural resources.

Cruz Verde moorland complex – Sumapaz

We start with the largest wasteland in the world. This is a set of several moors that is located in Colombia, and covers 300 thousand hectares in total. It is cataloged as a protected natural area.

Mass Wasteland

It is located in Burgos, Spain, and it can snow. It used to be a transit point for travelers, so the culture of staying there remained.

North York Moor

These Yorkshire moors are where Emily Brontë’s famous novel, Wuthering Heights, is set. Today it is a protected natural area, and is located in England. It is mainly made up of heather, and due to its magnificent views of the North Sea, it is a mountain and cycling place, where you can go hiking and cycling.

Páramo de Atacazo

It is in Quito, Ecuador, and is the most important source of drinking water in the area, and is protected as part of the country’s water security.

If you want to read more articles similar to Páramo: what it is, characteristics, flora, fauna and threats, we recommend that you enter our Ecosystems category.