Páramo

Páramo is a high-altitude neotropical ecosystem found in the Andes of northern South America. It lies above the upper tree line and below the permanent snow line, typically at elevations around 3,000 to 4,700 meters, depending on latitude and local climate. The climate is cool and humid with strong winds and large daily temperature variation; cloud cover and frequent mist sustain high humidity. Soils are often organic-rich peat formed by slow decomposition of vegetation, creating extensive wetlands within the landscape.

Vegetation is dominated by tussock grasses and cushion plants, with Espeletia species (frailejones) being particularly emblematic in many páramo regions. Ground cover includes mosses and liverworts, and plant communities are adapted to cold, wind, and episodic moisture. The fauna comprises Andean birds, small mammals such as vizcachas, and various amphibians and invertebrates that cope with the extreme conditions and seasonal resource scarcity. The ecosystem supports a high level of endemism and specialized species.

Páramos play a crucial hydrological role by capturing rainfall and fog and storing water in peat bogs and wet soils. They act as natural water towers, regulating streams and rivers that supply downstream ecosystems and human communities. Distribution is mainly in Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru, with smaller patches in Venezuela and northern Peru. The landscape is increasingly threatened by land-use change, grazing and burning, mining, and, most broadly, climate change, which can shift suitable conditions upslope. Protected areas and restoration initiatives aim to conserve this distinctive and ecologically important alpine ecosystem.