Big Picture: Biocultural Diversity

A People and Nature study led by Assistant Professor Alejandra Echeverri uses biology, anthropology, music, and geography to map where biodiversity and cultural diversity overlap in Colombia, one of Earth’s most biodiverse countries. The research highlights areas with the greatest potential for sustainable ecotourism and provides a planning framework that could be applied elsewhere. Pictured here is Melissa Cure, queen of Colombia’s Carnival of Barranquilla in 2024, dressed as a jaguar­—a symbol of power, strength, and spiritual connection for many Latin Americans of mestizo origins. Events like the Carnival showcase how wildlife is deeply embedded in cultures around the world.