Based on herbarium records, data bases and field studies in different localities of the Patia River valley in southwestern Colombia, a total of 297 vascular plants were previously known from this region. In this study the number was increased by 727 to a new total of 1024 species, which is a considerable increase in our knowledge of plant species richness in dry areas of southern Colombia. Those species are distributed among 556 genera in 130 families. Considering the number of species the following families stand out: Fabaceae (45 genera/119 species), Poaceae (52/101), Asteraceae (56/79), Malvaceae (23/44), Cyperaceae (7/41), Euphorbiaceae (10/39), Lamiaceae (13/31) and Solanaceae (9/31). The genera with the largest number of species are: Solanum (19 especies), Cyperus (16), Euphorbia (14), Hyptis (13), Senna (13), Sida (13), Piper (12), Peperomia (11) and Desmodium (10). Herbs are the predominant life-forms (53.77% of total species) followed by shrubs (24.58%). In the valley, pastures and crop fields are predominant; in some sectors, there are bushes and forest fragments in different successional stages; in the southern part, there are thorn bushes, with dominance of succulent plants belonging to the family Cactaceae.

The Zoologische Staatssammlung Muenchen (ZSM), Germany, possesses an historical value because is the depositary of important specimens that were used in the description of different species, especially from South America. Unfortunately, there is not available information about the mammals of Colombia housed at this collection. For this, 33 specimens from Colombia belonging to six orders, 14 genus, and 17 species were reviewed. Cranial and external measurements are given, as well as information of collectors and localities. Of these specimens, 23 were captured in Northern Colombia and imported to Germany to a pet store between 1954 and 1966. Due the difficulties to access to information of mammals from Colombia in European museums and collections, the information summarized here may be useful for people interested in these species.

Being consistent with the world latest innovations regarding biodiversity data publishing and scientific papers, the SiB Colombia and Biota Colombiana attended for the worldwide call “Activities to enrich metadata and promote the publication of data paper”. This activity took place in late 2012 and was offered by the Global Biodiversity information Facility Secretariat (GBIF), with the aim of support proposals to promote worldwide the publication of Data Papers, papers about biodiversity data. In this way we are pleased to report that the SiB Colombia and Biota Colombiana were granted by the call in Latin America. Thus, with the support of GBIF and implementation by the SiB, Biota Colombiana now includes a special section of data papers. These types of papers are academic publications that have arisen as a mechanism to encourage the publication of biodiversity data, achieving scholarly and professional recognition for people involved in generating and managing biodiversity information. The data papers should describe as best as possible the Whom, What, Where, When, Why and How to document and record data, without becoming the instrument to make a detailed analysis of the data, as happens in other academic publications. The innovation and improvement of this publishing model relies on the manuscript being always connected to the dataset through a link providing the persistent and reliable web repository of the biodiversity information publishing platform of SiB Colombia. With the incorporation of this model Biota Colombiana is placed at the vanguard in scientific publications, being the first Latin American journal that incorporates this model and one of the top fifteen worldwide, among which are the journals of Pensoft publishing house.

The presence of the giant African snail Achatina fulica (Bowdich 1822) was confirmed in Colombia in 2008. Due to economic and health implications of this species and the difficulties in controlling it, it is essential to establish the relevance of protocols and alternative inexpensive substances used to control the snail. In this research, the effectiveness of manual removal and manual removal with spray of calcium oxide was analyzed. Both techniques had similar efficiencies, so it is recommended that calcium oxide should be implemented only for the disposal of the collected individuals in order to reduce costs and decrease the impact on arthropofauna. In addition, we evaluated the molluscicide ability of commercial sodium hypochlorite, two plant extracts (Tabebuia rosea and Jatropha curcas), and commercial molluscicide (metaldehyde). We found that the three alternative substances were effective as molluscicides, but with lower effectiveness than the commercial substance. Implementation of the extracts of T. rosea and J. curcas is recommended because they have low cost, and do not present negative effects on the environment.

Elmidae is a family of aquatic beetles common in clean water streams and widely used in studies of environmental bioindication. This work was proposed in order to recognize the richness of the Elmidae genera in the department of Valle del Cauca and recopile information about its distribution since biological colection data. A total of 3305 specimens (larvae and adults) were examined, mainly stored in the Museum of Entomology at the University of Valle and associated with field work completed between 1991 and 2014. The samples were collected from 116 locations within 19 municipalities, and are representative of 63 streams, mainly belonging to the Anchicayá, Cauca, Dagua and San Juan rivers basin and the Andean and Pacific natural regions. A total of 16 genera were documented: eleven Elminae (Austrolimnius, Cylloepus, Heterelmis, Huleechius, Macrelmis, Microcylloepus, Neoelmis, Notelmis, Onychelmis, Xenelmis and Stenhelmoides, the last not found in local collection) and five Larainae (Disersus, Hexanchorus, Phanocerus, Pharceonus and Pseudodisersus). These genera were distributed from 110 to 2440 m a.s.l., with greater taxonomic representation between 1000 and 2000 m a.s.l. The two genera most widely distributed were Macrelmis and Heterelmis, while the river with the highest taxonomic representation was Guabas. The distribution area for Austrolimnius, Huleechius, Notelmis and Xenelmis was expanded to the Valle del Cauca region.

One of the potential distribution areas for tropical dry forest in Colombia is Cauca River Valley. Intensive agricultural activity in this zone has been one of the main factors causing its degradation since the middle of the 20th century. This study identifies and locates the natural areas that have persisted from 1984-2014 in the Cauca River Valley, in Valle del Cauca Department, using cartographic information and satellite images (Landsat TM5 and OLI). The results indicate that in spite of the 50% reduction in natural areas due to a 72% increase in cultivated areas, 26% of them have persisted since 1984, especially in the dry warm forest of the alluvial plain and in the dry warm forest of the alluvial piedmont, ecosystems of the helobiome biomes of the Valle del Cauca and the tropical alternohydric zonobiome of Valle del Cauca, respectively. The persistent natural areas identified in the time frame represents an opportunity to initiate ecological restoration processes and monitoring of dry forest vegetation and its cover in Valle del Cauca, considering that few remnants still retain structural and functional characteristics of this Biome and the conditions of connectivity between them are deficient.

The Indo-african beetle Digitonthophagus gazella was introduced into the Americas as a bio-controller of parasites and flies in livestock systems. This dung scarab is characterized for its high dispersal ability, reproduction and efficient use of cattle manure. In Colombia, the most recent survey situated this beetle only in lowland areas. In the present study D. gazella was found in two new Colombian departments (Meta and Valle del Cauca) and its presence was confirmed in Antioquia. In this study, few individuals were collected and they were associated with vegetation systems with poor cover, such as livestock pastures and sugar cane monoculture, suggesting early stages of colonization and corroborating the preference of the species for open areas. Besides with the range extension with new records, this work also provides insights on D. gazella apparent colonization above 500 m of altitude. The distribution of this species across the Magdalena River valley appears to be associated with inter-department bovine transport. The importance of a continuous monitoring of the dispersion of D. gazella in Colombia, to establish its dispersal rate, habitat preference and pest status is also highlighted.

The Ephemeroptera are an order of insects very important in the benthic community, being bio-indicators of water quality, considering key conservation. Despite the dense hydrographic network of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta (SNSM), Colombia Caribbean region, knowledge of aquatic macroinvertebrates assemblage is insufficient; limnological studies have focused mostly on the Gaira River. The aim of this study was to determine the composition and structure of the order Ephemeroptera in eight basins of the SNSM. The samples were collected between October-November 2013. In situ physical and chemical parameters were measured; nutrients and microorganisms were analyzed in the laboratory. In addition, the taxonomic composition and abundance was determined; Likewise canonical correspondence analysis (CCA) with the physico-chemical and microbiological biological parameters was performed. 1924 individuals distributed in five families and 12 genera were collected. The most abundant taxa were Leptohyphes (25 %), Baetodes (25 %), and Prebaetodes (9 %). According to the CCA, the temperature was the variable that best explained the variance of the presence of taxa. The basins of the SNSM remain important reservoirs of diversity of aquatic organisms. The results are a contribution to the knowledge of the order Ephemeroptera.

The ecological restoration of cacao plantations represents a chance for combining agriculture with biodiversity conservation. However, the success of a restoration project must be evaluated by a monitoring program. Involving the community in these programs promotes the environmental awareness of society and its active participation in the resolution of environmental problems, and it might promote the long-term monitoring. As a part of an ecological restoration project in cacao farms of Mérida state (Venezuela) aimed to increase the biodiversity, an experimental activity with students aged 9-12 was done to evaluate the changes in biodiversity that may be incorporated to a monitoring program of ecological restoration. Eight species of easily recognizable parasitoid Hymenoptera were selected as indicator group. The students participated on traps assembly, on collecting material and on identification of indicator species. The experience obtained from this project gave some advices for the implementation of a monitoring protocol of ecological restoration with participation of rural primary schools.

Colombia es líder para Latinoamérica en restauración ecológica. Lo anterior es producto del trabajo conjunto de investigadores e instituciones tanto del Sistema Nacional Ambiental (SINA) como del sector privado, la academia y por supuesto de la Red Colombiana de Restauración Ecológica (REDCRE). Dicho liderazgo no solo se expresa en los múltiples procesos de restauración ecológica que se vienen desarrollando desde hace más de 20 años, sino también en la construcción de un marco teórico-práctico ajustado para el país, así como en la consolidación de redes temáticas y el fortalecimiento de capacidades técnicas y científicas de las personas interesadas en el tema. El Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt en compañía de REDCRE, vienen desarrollando desde el 2012 diversos eventos para el fortalecimiento de capacidades incluyendo tres cursos (2012, 2013 y 2015), dos simposios regionales (Antioquia 2014 y Suroccidente 2015) y el III Congreso Colombiano de Restauración Ecológica (2016). Estos eventos, además de generar el espacio para intercambiar experiencias en restauración ecológica, también han sido el escenario propicio para constituir los nodos REDCRE de Antioquia, el Eje Cafetero y del Suroccidente, con los cuales se espera que a mediano plazo se establezca un grupo crítico y activo desde el nivel local para promover la restauración ecológica departamental y regional. El país depende hoy de que se siga fortaleciendo esa masa crítica en todo el territorio nacional, para que de esta manera se pueda transcender en el postconflicto y aportar a la construcción de un país en paz, entendiendo que la restauración ecológica, además de mitigar o ayudar a adaptarnos al cambio global, es una fuente de empleo y de reconciliación con la naturaleza. En nuestro país hoy por hoy se viene hablando de la necesidad de una “restauración” que se interpreta en ocasiones como retornar a los ecosistemas del pasado, algo a menudo poco factible. Sin embargo, es importante considerar otros escenarios intermedios, dentro de los cuales hay múltiples opciones para detener la pérdida de la biodiversidad y al mismo tiempo mejorar la calidad de vida para las comunidades y promover el desarrollo sostenible del país. Para esto la restauración ecológica de las áreas degradadas -que en Colombia representan cerca del 40 % del territorio continental-, ofrece distintas posibilidades que incluyen diferentes tipos de escenarios productivos y conservados. Con lo anterior es posible ayudar a dirigir las áreas dañadas o destruidas hacia paisajes social y ambientalmente deseados en el presente y futuro. Estamos en un momento crucial donde la restauración ecológica tiene un rol determinante en el escenario de la conservación tanto nacional como global y los avances del país en el tema ya se empiezan a percibir. Sin embargo, cuando se revisa en conjunto las publicaciones de restauración que se han realizado, se nota un especial énfasis en trabajos de restauración basados en el componente florístico, pocos documentos relacionados con el diagnóstico o monitoreo, divulgación limitada para otros enfoques y escalas de trabajo, escasez en publicaciones desde las regiones y sobre todo, un gran vacío en trabajos con rigor científico que puedan ser presentados en una revista indexada. En este suplemento especial de Biota Colombiana hemos querido recopilar algunos de los estudios y trabajos de restauración ecológica que fueron presentados en el I Simposio de Restauración Ecológica del Nodo REDCRE Suroccidente, sirviendo al mismo tiempo como una especie de memoria para dicho evento. Se presentan trabajos de distintas regiones del país, destacando los procesos de restauración en el bosque seco, en áreas afectadas por retamo espinoso, el aporte del componente social y su vínculo con lo biótico y una propuesta de zonificación y restauración desde la escala del paisaje. La Red, el Comité Organizador del Simposio y el Instituto esperamos que nuestros lectores accedan a información actualizada y relevante sobre una temática cada vez más sensible y con la necesidad de tener múltiples enfoques. Deseamos que este número especial sea un aporte interesante a la literatura científica de restauración ecológica y que sea útil no solo para la comunidad de restauradores de nuestro país y Latinoamérica, sino para aquellas personas e instituciones que deben responder día a día el reto de gestionar con criterios socioecológicos un territorio mixto, muy dinámico y con escenarios cambiantes de degradación y recuperación. Agradecemos a los autores y todos los colaboradores que directa o indirectamente han hecho posible esta valiosa publicación. También agradecemos la confianza a aquellos autores que sometieron sus trabajos para este número especial y por supuesto a los organizadores y asistentes del I Simposio Restauración Ecológica del Nodo REDCRE Suroccidente. Aprovechamos la oportunidad para invitarlos a participar en las versiones futuras de los eventos científicos que REDCRE y el Instituto Humboldt continuarán realizando.