El Mono Hernández Cork Forest Flora and Fauna Sanctuary, Natural sanctuary in San Onofre and Arjona, Colombia.
El Mono Hernández Cork Forest Flora and Fauna Sanctuary is a protected area along Colombia's Caribbean coast containing mangrove and cork swamp forests. The site encompasses different forest types and aquatic habitats that together create a rich and interconnected ecosystem.
The sanctuary was established in 2002 by Colombia's National Natural Parks System to protect the region's natural ecosystems. This action was part of broader efforts to safeguard threatened forest areas along the Caribbean coast.
The name honors Jorge Ignacio Hernández-Camacho, a Colombian naturalist who dedicated his work to protecting natural spaces. Local communities have long depended on these forests for their livelihoods and continue to have a relationship with the land.
The area is accessible through various routes, including boat travel from Cartagena via Bahía de Barbacoas. Visitors should prepare for tropical conditions with humidity and regular rainfall, and consider hiring local guides to better navigate the terrain and spot wildlife.
The site contains the only pure cork forest formation with Pterocarpus officinalis trees in the Colombian Caribbean. These distinctive trees are adapted to environments mixing salt and fresh water, creating a highly specialized ecosystem.
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