.png)
What happens when a rain season that has been predictable for decades starts shifting? When rain is not setting in until March, but drops are falling nearly every single day in January already?
Raúl paints a pretty clear picture of the ramifications.
He and the neighbouring 10 families in the community are located on the shore of the Cauca River, the second most important waterway in Colombia. 🇨🇴
Living with the seasons has traditionally been their yearly cycle. The rainy season increases water levels and the fish population , while making the connected lagoon navigable by small motor boats.
Conversely, the dry season reveals the sandy shores of the river, attracting plenty of bird species that come to feast on insects and worms.
However, recent weather events and the constant chance of heavy rainfalls result in the river rising and falling heavily, usually prolonging the high waters.
While high waters can be a blessing for certain agricultural products, they are devastating for others such as bananas and coffee. They significantly lower the productivity of the trees/bushes and make it harder to control diseases and weeds.
If that were not enough, Raúl also points out the increasing pollution levels in the river, mainly from industries and big cities such as Cali. Once able to supply fish and nutrition for over 200 fishing families, this Cauca region now sees fewer and fewer fish being caught with casted nets.
There is clearly more trouble ahead in this Colombian paradise if the trend is not reversed...
