The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta is a strategic ecosystem in the Caribbean region, where a variety of ecosystems converge, such as the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, coastal ecosystems with a great variety of coral reefs, national natural parks, among others. These ecosystems have been negatively impacted by anthropogenic activities in the region, ranging from soil exploitation for monoculture to the coal export industry. In addition, water resource contamination, poor solid waste management, atmospheric pollution, and the lack of potable water and basic sanitation are factors that degrade the region's environmental quality and diminish its value and capacity to offer ecosystem services to the department and the country.