This biodiversity holds great scenic and cultural value, but more importantly, has potential medicinal value. Furthermore, the diversity g is the basis for all ecological relations that result in the balance of regional ecosystems and the world climate. Major Environmental and Conservation Issues Road constrution and colonization have decreased Colombia fs forests significantly. Colombia also suffers from air pollution, especially in Bogota, where vehicle emissions can be easily trapped by mountains. Also, pollution from sewages has made water from Bogota River not only unfit for drinking, but also cleaning.
Fisheries Click on the link on the right for more information, including a table of statistics.
Ecotourism Trapped Between Biodiversity and Insecurity Trade in wildlife products Coca and poppy, both harmful to the environment, are exported illegally. Primary importers of processed cocaine are the United States, Western Europe, Japan, and more ecently Eastern Europe. Colombia's four largest legal exports are oil, cut flowers, coffee, and bananas, all of which contribute to deforestation. Colombia is the third largest Latin American exporter of oil to the United States. Colombia also clears forests and uses pesticides to grow roses, and the boxes of flowers are used to traffic drugs to the United States.