In the Andes mountain rangein the southwest of Colombiahe crater of a volcano sacred houses a lovely lagoon with dozens of shades of green, where a natural treasure threatened by the mass tourismbut today under the protection of a indigenous community.
“The ancestors of the lagoon do not like to be disturbed. First you have to ask permission from nature“said Jorge Arévalo, member of the indigenous guardregarding ascending the Azufral volcano, which rises up to 4070 meters above sea level in the region of NariñoIt’s not just a matter of physical condition.
Several indigenous members took action on the matter and they closed the way to tourists, where nowadays it is only allowed to go up to the Green Lagoonwith the authorization of the native people in charge.
The Green Lagoon was, for a long time, one of the best kept secrets of Colombia, but from the Thai Maya Bay, which starred in the movie “The Beach,” to the Icelandic canyon that appeared in a Justin Bieber video, tourists have invaded the most remote beauty spots, disturbing their delicate ecological balance.
Modernity and massive visits caused this Colombian natural paradise to suffer the impact of the deterioration of the 7,503 hectares of parkwhich led to the indigenous guard will close in September 2017.
Remains of fecal matter and kilos of garbageleaked into the drinking water supply of the three surrounding communities and caused the cup to overflow. The lagoon system is “the only water source that the municipality has,” says Arévalo and warns that “we can’t risk the future of our buses (children), for giving pleasure to people who come to have fun.
Diego Fernando Bolañosfrom the Nariño tourism department, remembers lamenting that “there were even 1,500 people a day. It was invasive”, and maintains that “Laguna Verde is one of the jewelry that we have in the department of Nariño”, although he admits that it has not been managed in an “adequate way”.
What precautions do they take in this regard in Colombia?
Indigenous Guard volunteers They patrol regularly to detect and scare away intruders, who are punished according to indigenous traditions, with verbal reprimands or a blow of the cane depending on the case.
Before the ascent, members of the guard hold a ritual in the presence of his taita (shaman), Florentino Chasoyto celebrate the “cycle of life“Without our gods, without nature, water, mountains, we are nothing,” says Chasoy and explains that each one “asks for permission to climb” to the top and “contemplate the beauty“from the lagoon.
On the initiative of the European UnionArévalo is one of the guests at the COP 16 of biodiversity, which will be held from Monday to November 1 in the Colombian city of Cali, to talk about his experience. “The work of protection and recovery of the Laguna Verde by the indigenous community of Pasto is a very good example of the connection between local action and climate change“said Gilles Bertrand, EU ambassador in Colombia.
Bolaños defends the need to “gradually reopen“the site, with paid access, although under a more model”sustainable“. On the other hand, Arévalo insists: “We are not opposed to people visiting us, we oppose uncontrolled tourism“and added that “we are the only ones who take measures against this madness.”
Source: Ambito
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