The Magdalena River (Colombia) as a World Heritage Site under the category of Cultural Route: contributions derived from the Country Pact project

Abstract

The article below presents the advances in the project “Country Pact for the Great Magdalena River,” emphasizing the importance of understanding the river as a cultural route by considering its symbolic, historical, cultural, and environmental value. It also suggests actions to be taken before the declaration of the Magdalena River as a unesco World Heritage Site under the category of Cultural Route. The article primarily focuses on the river’s protection, sustainable development, and surrounding communities, while analyzing ongoing issues. It also highlights how the project’s implementation has allowed the recognition of the river as a subject of law, the acknowledgment it has received, and its previous declarations, in alignment with the 6th Sustainable Development Goal. Furthermore, it presents and analyzes the swot matrix derived from the Master Fluvial Plan in Colombia, released by arcadis and containing fundamental information based on identifying the river’s strengths, opportunities, threats, and weaknesses. The project aims to protect and value the river as a cultural route while promoting sustainable development in the region. It also emphasizes the current challenges for the river from a collaborative and interdisciplinary perspective, promoting its sustainability and cultural value while strengthening research and interinstitutional cooperation.