Colombian Law: rights of the Patía River Basin

Summary

In January of 2025, the Congress of the Republic of Colombia received this bill seeking to recognize the Patía River and its basin as subjects of rights. The initiative was introduced by Congressman Juan Pablo Salazar, with the support of rural and ethnic communities, as well as social organizations that have been defending the territory for decades. The bill seeks to establish the Patía River and its tributaries be recognized as subjects of special protection, with legal representation to guarantee their right to exist, flow, and remain free from pollution. The initiative also seeks to protect the region by excluding mining in the upper basin of the river, near the Crown of the Colombian Massif mountain group and in the Andean Constellation Biosphere Reserve, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, and declare the area an Área de Protección para a Producción de Alimentos (APPA, Food Production Protection Area).

If approved, the bill would direct the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, and the Legal Representatives of the Patía River, its basins, and tributaries, to convene with various authorities, institutions, and community organizations (all mentioned in the language of the bill) to form the Commission of Protectors of the Patía River Basin. Once established, the Commission of Protectors would be tasked with appointing three leaders of said commission, who would be responsible for exercising guardianship, care, and guaranteeing the rights of the Patía River Basin recognized in this law.

The Patía River is a Colombian river named after the convergence of the Quilcacé and Timbío rivers, which originate on the northwestern side of the Sotará volcano in the Colombian Massif and flow into the Pacific Ocean. The Patía River is 410 kilometers long and its basin covers an area of 17,000 km², including territories in the Departments of Cauca and Nariño. The Patía River basin is made up of the sub-basins of 16 rivers including: Río Timbío, Río Quilcacé, Río Guachicono, Río Esmita, Río Hatoviejo, Río San Jorge (Río Sambingo), Río Juanambú, Río Mayo, Río Guaitara, Río Guabas, Río Sajandí, Río Iscuandecito, Río Telembí, Río Maguí Payán, Río San Pablo, and Río Satinga.

Involved Organizations