These special ecosystems can only be found in Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Peru and Venezuela. Spectacled bears (Andean bears), South America's only bear species (a highly endangered species), call páramos home.
The fuzzy leaves alongside its thick sponge-like trunks help it trap water which it then releases through its roots.
In March, I hiked the Ocetá páramo with my tutor, my partner and a tour guide. Our tour guide was a passionate environmentalist who educated us on the harm being done to páramos due to cattle farming in the Boyacá region. She also mentioned that there is political tension between farmers and environmentalists due to this issue. Because páramos are essential in terms of water regulation and absorbing carbon dioxide (which helps combat climate change), preserving these plants is of utmost importance.
