The Minister of Environment of Colombia, Lena Estrada, celebrated the approval of Law 2469 of 2025, considering it a strategic advance for the environmental protection of the country, by officially integrating wetlands into the National System for Disaster Risk Management and the National Climate Change System.
The law establishes mechanisms to reduce risks associated with extreme events, conserve aquatic biodiversity, and increase the response capacity of territories to the effects of global warming.
“This legislation reaffirms Colombia’s commitment to the conservation of key ecosystems, especially wetlands, which play a vital role in water security, climate resilience, and the ecological and economic stability of the country,” stated Estrada.
Territorial planning, watershed restoration, and nature-based solutions
The minister also highlighted that the law will promote coordination among urban environmental authorities to prevent urban interventions that compromise the integrity of these ecosystems, facing threats such as floods, seismic movements, or landslides.
The legislative process that led to this law was made possible through a joint technical effort between the Ministry of Environment, research institutes, territorial entities, local communities, and Representative Leyla Marleny Rincón, the promoter of the initiative in Congress.
Law 2469 incorporates wetlands into territorial planning instruments and proposes concrete measures for restoration and sustainable management of watersheds.
It also promotes the development of planning tools that connect water, ecosystems, and biodiversity, encouraging nature-based solutions (NbS) for climate adaptation.
The law proposes differentiated criteria for permanent and temporary wetlands
Colombia has more than 25 million hectares of wetlands, of which 5 million are permanent and require priority actions for their protection, restoration, and conservation.
The remaining 20 million hectares of temporary wetlands require interventions focused on water management and risk reduction, especially in vulnerable urban and rural contexts.
Furthermore, 12 wetland ecosystems in the country have been recognized as Ramsar sites, due to their ecological, cultural, and social importance at an international level.
The regulation aims to strengthen the legal protection of these areas, regulate their use within urban frameworks, and halt processes of accelerated degradation threatening their ecological functionality.
Call to territorial entities: responsible planning and ongoing monitoring
Estrada urged local governments to implement the new law with institutional responsibility, integrating wetlands into their urban plans, strengthening environmental monitoring systems, and ensuring the conservation of these strategic ecosystems for future generations.
