GRUPO ECOMUNITARIO
Applying citizen science to better understand and conserve our urban biodiversity
A key area for the ecological landscape of Bogotá D.C. Located between Carreras 85 and 94, and the Autopista Norte and Carrera 7, the Gran Chicó covers much of the historic grasslands of the Hacienda El Chicó. Today highly urbanized, these neighborhoods contain a mosaic of greenspaces and an astounding biodiversity still unknown to many.
Join the project "Biodiversidad urbana del Gran Chicó" and help us complete the list of all the species living in the neighborhoods of the Gran Chicó.
Some of the biggest potential for conserving urban biodiversity is by transitioning the hundreds of public and private gardens of the Gran Chicó to a more wildlife friendly management.
A key area for the ecological landscape of Bogotá D.C. Located between Carreras 85 and 94, and the Autopista Norte and Carrera 7, the Gran Chicó covers much of the historic grasslands of the Hacienda El Chicó. Today highly urbanized, these neighborhoods contain a mosaic of greenspaces and an astounding biodiversity still unknown to many.
Map of the Gran Chicó
You’re invited to download our map of the Gran Chicó as a tool to highlight the area’s impressive biodiversity. Click on the map for large or small format printing. We hope neighbors, visitors and businesses reproduce this map, drawn by María Clara Mantilla, and send us photos of it on your wall!! Modification or commercialization is not permitted without written authorization.
Dragonflies and Damselflies of the Gran Chicó
These beneficial insects are important predators of mosquitos and depend on natural and artificial water bodies such as the Chicú Wetland and the fountains of the El Chicó Museum. 10 of the 13 species known for Bogotá D.C. have been found in the area, highlighting the importance of even small waterbodies for the urban ecology of the city.
Flora of the Gran Chicó
With over 500 species, the Gran Chicó is an excellent area to study the challenges and opportunities of integral urban landscape management in Bogotá. The following resources are tools for both the public as well as goverment agencies to understand better the urban forest of the Gran Chicó.
Butterflies and Moths of the Gran Chicó
Excellent bioindicators of the area’s ecology, they depend on a variety of flowers and host plants. To date, almost 30 species of butterflies have been confirmed but with an increase of wildlife friendly gardening, as well as reduced pesticide use, the species list of the Gran Chicó could double. The moths of the area are still little known and are a future research priority.