[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[Senate]
[Page 13204]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       CHIRIBIQUETE NATIONAL PARK

  Mr. LEAHY. Mr President, I want to speak briefly about a recent 
development in Colombia of which many Senators may not be aware.
  Colombia is ranked as the second most biologically diverse country in 
the world. The variety of plant and animal life is staggering, which 
reflects its similarly diverse geography--from Amazon rainforest to 
glacier-covered mountains, and Caribbean and Pacific coastlines.
  To its credit, Colombia has an extensive system of national parks and 
biological reserves. I have long been convinced that as security 
improves in that country and long after the oil wells are depleted, its 
national parks and other protected areas will be among Colombia's 
greatest resource, attracting eco-tourists from around the world.
  On August 21 President Santos took an historic leap forward by 
doubling the size of Chiribiquete National Park, which is home to a 
myriad of species including jaguars and is comprised of extraordinary 
rock formations and dense jungle. Chiribiquete was already Colombia's 
largest park, and it has now become the size of Belgium.
  There is more that needs to be done to protect Colombia's 
environment, particularly from the damage caused by mining and other 
extractive industries which has often occurred in, or adjacent to, 
environmentally fragile areas or indigenous reserves.
  But President Santos' single stroke of the pen has done more for 
environmental conservation and species protection than what most heads 
of state do in a lifetime. I commend him for it and congratulate the 
Colombian people. Colombia has set an example for all of us who care 
about the environment and recognize that we have a responsibility to 
protect it for future generations.

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