Abstract
The protection and conservation of rivers inside protected areas and aquifer recharges are of great importance in Colombia and one of the major commitments of the government, since surface water bodies usually originate in these ecosystems. Such systems therefore offer goods and services of water supply to large cities. The Santuario de Fauna y Flora Iguaque (SFFI) is a protected area of the Colombian Andean region composed of paramo and Andean forest ecosystems. The area, which provides water to both rural and urban communities, is managed by Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia (National Natural Parks of Colombia). In order to determine the ecological quality of the Mamarramos micro-basin, the CERA-S protocol (Simplified Ecological Quality for Andean Rivers) was applied. This tool integrates hydro-morphological quality with biotic index ABI. Three samplings were performed during dry season (October, November, and December 2015) in 10 sampling sites along the brooks of Carrizal, Francos, and Mamarramos. Obtained results qualify the micro-basin as a system in excellent state, thus providing valuable information for political and community leaders to make decisions to conserve and prevent the detriment of the ecosystem due to anthropic activities.
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