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27-513: Chocó Department ( Spanish pronunciation: [tʃoˈko] ) is a department of the Pacific region of Colombia known for hosting the largest Afro-Colombian population in the nation, and a large population of Amerindian and mixed African-Amerindian Colombians. It is in the west of the country, and is the only Colombian department to have coastlines on both the Pacific Ocean and

54-619: A municipal council ( concejo municipal ), both of which are elected by popular vote for four-year periods. Some departments have subdivisions above the level of municipalities, commonly known as provinces . The indigenous territories are at the third level of administrative division in Colombia, as are the municipalities. Indigenous territories are created by agreement between the government and indigenous communities. In cases where indigenous territories cover more than one department or municipality, local governments jointly administer them with

81-430: A governor ( gobernador ) and an Assembly ( Asamblea Departamental ), elected by popular vote for a four-year period. The governor cannot be re-elected in consecutive periods. Departments are country subdivisions and are granted a certain degree of autonomy. Departments are formed by a grouping of municipalities ( municipios , sing. municipio ). Municipal government is headed by mayor ( alcalde ) and administered by

108-535: Is a Key Biodiversity Area ( KBA ). According to the United Nations Development Program , it contains the 'greatest plant biodiversity on the planet (and) twenty-five percent of the plant and bird species living in this region are endemic .' Globally, Chocó is among 25 regions classified as priority biodiversity hotspots. Threats to this rich biodiversity, despite the region's conservation priority status, are many. Approximately 80% of

135-498: Is greatly challenged and not sufficiently equipped to meet the numerous conservation threats to a great diversity of fauna and flora that include 300 bird species. Forest degradation takes at least 50 years to regenerate, and regeneration efforts are not keeping pace with the rate of further deforestation. Soil erosion, negative effects on species' feeding and reproductive cycles, fragmentation of habitat, and loss of species are all consequences of this large-scale deforestation. The Chocó

162-651: Is inhabited predominantly by Afro-Colombians, descendants of enslaved Africans imported and brought to this area by the Spanish colonizers after conquering the Americas . The second largest race/ethnic group are the Embera , a Native American people. More than half of their total population in Colombia lives in Chocó, some 35,500. They practice hunting and artisan fishing and live near rivers. The total population as of 2005

189-480: Is thick rainforest . Much of the wood for Colombia's internal consumption is harvested from the Chocó, with a small percentage harvested for export. Chocó Department produces the majority of Colombia's significant platinum output (28,359 ounces of platinum in 2011). Chocó is also Colombia's top gold -producing region (653,625 ounces in 2011). In the late 19th century, it attracted a variety of miners from many countries seeking to make their fortunes in gold. The Chocó

216-537: The Atlantic Ocean . It contains all of Colombia's border with Panama . Its capital is Quibdó . Chocó has a diverse geography, unique ecosystems and unexploited natural resources; however, its population has one of the lowest standards of living of all departments in Colombia. A major factor cited by the government is the rugged, montane rainforest environment and the hot, hyperhumid climate. These factors have limited any significant infrastructure improvements to

243-458: The administrative divisions of Colombia . As of 2024 , the unitary republic is made up of thirty-two departments. Each department has a governor and an assembly , elected by popular vote for a four-year period. Colombia is a unitary republic made up of thirty-two administrative divisions referred to as departments ( Spanish : departamentos , sing. departamento ) and one Capital District ( Distrito Capital ). Each department has

270-474: The environmental degradation and biodiversity loss. For example, a 2019 analysis of more than 80,000 ha of LiDAR samples to quantify the vegetation structure, disturbance, and elevation in Chocó forests, a loss of more than 115 million tons of dry biomass, or 58 million tons of carbon was documented. El Pangán ProAves Reserve, in the biogeographic region of Chocó, charged with protecting area's biodiversity, with special consideration of protecting bird species,

297-1349: The states of Colombia into departments, with the state presidents renamed as governors. The states formed the following original departments: [REDACTED]   Amazonas [REDACTED]   Antioquia [REDACTED]   Arauca [REDACTED]   Atlántico [REDACTED]   Bolívar [REDACTED]   Boyacá [REDACTED]   Caldas [REDACTED]   Caquetá [REDACTED]   Casanare [REDACTED]   Cauca [REDACTED]   Cesar [REDACTED]   Chocó [REDACTED]   Córdoba [REDACTED]   Cundinamarca [REDACTED]   Guainía [REDACTED]   Guaviare [REDACTED]   Huila [REDACTED]   La Guajira [REDACTED]   Magdalena [REDACTED]   Meta [REDACTED]   Nariño [REDACTED]   N. Santander [REDACTED]   Putumayo [REDACTED]   Quindío [REDACTED]   Risaralda [REDACTED]   San Andrés [REDACTED]   Santander [REDACTED]   Sucre [REDACTED]   Tolima [REDACTED]   Valle del Cauca [REDACTED]   Vaupés [REDACTED]   Vichada Capital district: [REDACTED]   Bogotá Key Biodiversity Area The KBA global standard

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324-1562: The Pacific Coast. Resorts and Tourist destinations include Capurganá on the Caribbean Coast, and Juradó , Nuquí , and Solano Bay on the West Coast. [REDACTED]   Amazonas [REDACTED]   Antioquia [REDACTED]   Arauca [REDACTED]   Atlántico [REDACTED]   Bolívar [REDACTED]   Boyacá [REDACTED]   Caldas [REDACTED]   Caquetá [REDACTED]   Casanare [REDACTED]   Cauca [REDACTED]   Cesar [REDACTED]   Chocó [REDACTED]   Córdoba [REDACTED]   Cundinamarca [REDACTED]   Guainía [REDACTED]   Guaviare [REDACTED]   Huila [REDACTED]   La Guajira [REDACTED]   Magdalena [REDACTED]   Meta [REDACTED]   Nariño [REDACTED]   N. Santander [REDACTED]   Putumayo [REDACTED]   Quindío [REDACTED]   Risaralda [REDACTED]   San Andrés [REDACTED]   Santander [REDACTED]   Sucre [REDACTED]   Tolima [REDACTED]   Valle del Cauca [REDACTED]   Vaupés [REDACTED]   Vichada Capital district: [REDACTED]   Bogotá Departments of Colombia Departments of Colombia refer to

351-463: The departments of Antioquia and Valle del Cauca . But the 1957 coup d'état of General Gabriel París Gordillo overthrew Pinilla's government and ended such plans. The Chocó Department makes up most of the ecoregion known as El Chocó that extends from Panama to Ecuador . The municipality of Lloró holds the record for the world’s highest average annual precipitation , measured at 13,300 millimetres (520 in; 43.6 ft) which makes it

378-521: The dissolution of Gran Colombia in 1826 by the Revolution of the Morrocoyes ( La Cosiata ), New Granada kept its 17 provinces. In 1832 the provinces of Vélez and Barbacoas were created, and in 1835 those of Buenaventura and Pasto were added. In 1843 those of Cauca, Mompós and Túquerres were created. At this time the cantons ( cantones ) and parish districts were created, which provided the basis for

405-492: The forest has been converted to other uses, such as slash-and-burn and intensive agriculture, inappropriate and illegal logging, and cattle ranching. Measuring the extent of biodiversity loss in Chocó thus far was previously difficult due to the remoteness of most of the region. However, with advances in LiDAR imaging and the efforts of various nonprofit conservation organizations, there is much documentation to identify and quantify

432-445: The functions of INCORA, one of the most important being to declare which territories will acquire the status of indigenous protection and what extension of existing ones will be allowed. Decree 2164 of 1995 interprets Law 160 of 1994, providing, among other things, a legal definition of indigenous territories. Indigenous territories in Colombia are mostly in the departments of Amazonas, Cauca, La Guajira, Guaviare, and Vaupés. When it

459-548: The grave condition Chocó’s inhabitants are facing. That same year, an additional 10 adults and senior citizens, of the indigenous community in Chocó, died due to preventable causes such as malaria and diarrhea. In spite of the department’s ranking of “world's rainiest lowland” (the Chocó–Darién moist forests ecoregion ), with close to 400 inches (10,000 mm) of annual precipitation, Quibdó lacks sanitary drinking water. The first city founded by conquistadors in mainland America

486-720: The indigenous councils, as set out in Articles 329 and 330 of the Colombian Constitution of 1991 . Also indigenous territories may achieve local autonomy if they meet the requirements of the law. Article 329 of the 1991 constitution recognizes the collective indigenous ownership of indigenous territories and repeats that are inalienable. Law 160 of 1994 created the National System of Agrarian Reform and Rural Development Campesino, and replaced Law 135 of 1961 on Agrarian Social Reform; it establishes and sets out

513-543: The new constitution of 1853 introduced federalism, which lead to the consolidation of provinces into states. By 1858 this process was complete, with a resulting eight federal states: Panamá was formed in 1855, Antioquia in 1856, Santander in May 1857, and Bolívar, Boyacá, Cauca, Cundinamarca and Magdalena were formed in June 1858. 1861 saw the creation of the final federal state of Tolima. The Colombian Constitution of 1886 converted

540-470: The present-day municipalities. By 1853 the number of provinces had increased to thirty-six, namely:Antioquia, Azuero, Barbacoas, Bogotá, Buenaventura, Cartagena, Casanare, Cauca, Chiriquí, Chocó, Córdova, Cundinamarca, García Rovira, Mariquita, Medellín, Mompós, Neiva, Ocaña, Pamplona, Panamá, Pasto, Popayán, Riohacha, Sabanilla, Santa Marta, Santander, Socorro, Soto, Tequendama, Tunja, Tundama, Túquerres, Valle de Upar, Veraguas, Vélez and Zipaquirá. However,

567-400: The region, and Chocó remains one of the most isolated regions of Colombia, with no major transportation infrastructure built since initial foundations were laid down in 1967 for a highway connecting Chocó with the city of Medellín . The area has little access to medical care. In August 2016, Colombian media reported that some 50 children starved in less than three months, creating awareness of

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594-407: The scale of KBAs, such as the use of global data to set parameters for single regions or ecosystems, as well as the lack of involvement of local governments and other authorities- especially in developing countries- in their implementation. Other issues raised include the defining of conservation strictly in terms of location, and the naming of single species as important to the environment rather than

621-625: The wettest place in the world. Three large rivers drain the Chocó Department, the Atrato (which runs north, with tributaries that also flow north), the San Juan , and the Baudó . Each has many tributaries. The Baudó Mountains on the coast and the inland Cordillera Occidental are cut by low valleys, with an altitude less than 1,000 meters, that form most of the territory. Most of the Chocó

648-534: Was Santa María la Antigua del Darién , founded by Vasco Núñez de Balboa in 1510 and disestablished in 1524, just 14 years later. The department was created in 1944. Its low population, mountainous and inhospitable topography , and distance from Bogotá resulted in Chocó receiving little attention from the Colombian government. During the reign of military dictator Gustavo Rojas Pinilla , his administration proposed to eliminate Chocó and divide its territory between

675-472: Was first established in 1819, The Republic of Gran Colombia had three departments. Venezuela , Cundinamarca (now Colombia) and Quito (now Ecuador). In 1824, the Distrito del Centro (which became Colombia) was divided into five departments and further divided into seventeen provinces. One department, Isthmus Department , consisting of two provinces, later became the sovereign country of Panama . With

702-458: Was less than half a million, with more than half living in the Quibdó valley. According to a 2005 census the ethnic composition of the department is: Quibdó is the largest city, with a population of almost 100,000. Other important cities and towns include Istmina , Condoto , Alto Baudó , Riosucio and El Carmen de Atrato in the interior, Acandí on the Caribbean Coast, and Bahía Solano on

729-449: Was published in 2016. The criteria for what can qualify as a KBA is one or more of the following: The KBA standard has been applied around the globe to over 16,000 areas with a total 21,000,000 km , which can be viewed in map form. It is used by scientists to assess fragmentation and habitat loss in vulnerable areas, and is generally seen as an effective method of identifying areas in need of protection. Some criticism involves

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