Indigenous Communities Adapt to Environmental Pressures in Colombia's 'Heart of the World'

In Colombia’s Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, known as the ‘Heart of the World,’ Indigenous Wiwa communities are relocating due to environmental pressures. Families from Gomke are constructing new homes on lower slopes, moving away from their ancestral lands in Dibulla.

The region faces increasing threats from climate change, including rising temperatures and altered precipitation patterns. These changes exacerbate existing vulnerabilities such as deforestation and land degradation, pushing Indigenous communities to adapt by relocating.

Historically, the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta has been a critical ecological zone for biodiversity and cultural heritage. The displacement of these communities highlights broader issues of environmental degradation and the need for sustainable adaptation strategies.