Attention and services to citizens

Illustration of Colombia's biodiversity, birds, plants and people, Institute Humboldt
Address
Calle 72 # 12 -65 Piso 7, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
user service hotline
PBX (+57) 601 320 2767
What is the Institute Humboldt?

The Instituto de Investigación de Recursos Biológicos Alexander von Humboldt is a non-profit civil corporation, created by Law 99 of 1993, of public character, but subject to the rules of private law, with administrative autonomy, legal personality and its own patrimony, linked to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

Its function is to carry out scientific research on biodiversity in the national continental territory, including scientific research related to hydrobiological resources and genetic resources. In addition, its mission is to contribute to the creation of the national inventory of biodiversity, develop a national information system on biodiversity, and obtain, store, analyze, study, process, supply and disseminate basic information on biodiversity, ecosystems, their resources and processes, for the proper management and use of the Nation's renewable natural resources.

Does the Institute Humboldt perform environmental impact studies for individuals, issue environmental licenses, biodiversity certificates or AICA?

No, the Institute Humboldt is not an environmental authority, so the aforementioned activities are outside its functions and mission.

What is a AICA?

It is an international distinction that refers to an 'Important Bird and Biodiversity Area'. Its acronym in English is IBA. The AICA Program is a global initiative coordinated by BirdLife International that focuses on the identification, documentation and management of a global network of critical sites for the conservation of birds and biodiversity, considered irreplaceable and potentially vulnerable"hotspots". In Colombia and the world the AICA are identified according to technical criteria that consider the presence of bird species that are a priority for conservation. To learn more please click here.

Does the Institute issue concepts in relation to invasive, threatened or endemic species?

No, the Institute Humboldt is not an environmental authority, so issuing concepts on the matter is outside its functions and mission. Now, through Resolution 1204 of 2014 of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the National Technical Committee of Introduced and/or Transplanted Invasive Species was formed, of which the Institute is part, which delivers technical inputs to the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development such as Risk Analysis on issues related to species, subspecies, breeds, hybrids and varieties, among others, whether transplanted and/or exotic. Learn more about exotic and invasive species.

What is the role of the Institute in the delimitation of moorlands?

Regarding the delimitation of paramos, according to the provisions of Article 173 of Law 1753 of 2015 and Article 4 of Law 1930 of 2018, "the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development shall make the delimitation of paramos based on the reference area generated by the Alexander von Humboldt Biological Resources Research Institute at scale 1:25,000 or whichever is available and the technical, economic, social and environmental studies prepared by the regional environmental authority in accordance with the terms of reference issued by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development."

In this sense, the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development is the competent authority to advance the delimitation of páramo areas, taking as input both the reference area generated by the Institute Humboldt, at a scale of 1:100,000 or 1:25,000 when the latter is available, and the technical studies that allow characterizing the environmental, social and economic context prepared by the regional environmental authority (competent regional autonomous corporations or sustainable development corporations), in accordance with the terms of reference issued by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development.

Does the Institute issue certifications on the existence of wetlands?

No, the Institute Humboldt is not an environmental or cartographic authority, so it is outside its functions and mission to issue this type of certificates. However, geospatial information can be consulted in our Geographic Catalog.

The manual for downloading geospatial data and information.

What are the Institute's lines of action?

As a research institute of the Sina, the Institute aims to mobilize data, information, knowledge and narratives that position and connect biodiversity and its contributions to the transition towards sustainability and the well-being of people in a context of climate change.

With the above framework, and under a mission-oriented research and management approach, the Institute manages knowledge related to the integrated management of biodiversity and its ecosystem services, for which it has proposed six challenges for 2030:

  • Conservation of ecologically important areas
  • Implementing solutions for biodiverse production landscapes
  • Incorporating nature-based solutions for resilient urban-regional landscapes.
  • Generation of bio-based businesses
  • Generation of transformative changes for the social appropriation of knowledge.
  • Effective incorporation of public and sectoral policy instruments for biodiversity.

It addresses these challenges through research centers in Species Collections and Management, Socioecological Studies and Global Change, Economics and Finance of Biodiversity, Nature-based Solutions, Social Appropriation, and Data Integration and Analytics.

Where can I consult information on the species present in the different municipalities of Colombia?

The Institute enabled the geographicvisor where you can make queries in relation to the species present at the level of municipality and department, following the steps in the consultation and download manual

You can also consult the portal of the Biodiversity Information System of Colombia - SiB Colombia.

Both visor and SiB Colombia you can find the Institute's information Humboldt along with information from other institutions at the national level. It should be noted that the records published through these tools are constantly updated. In addition, in the biomodelos it is possible to access updated, timely and accurate information on the state of biological diversity in the territory.

Where can I consult the Institute's publications?

In the information catalogs are available all the resources produced by the Institute Humboldt in fulfillment of its institutional mission. These catalogs, available in the following internet links for consultation by all Colombians, allow filters and searches according to specific information requirements: 

  • Data and information in geospatial format: Consult our Geographic Catalog, and follow the steps in the manual to download geospatial data and information.
  • Data and information on species: Consult our geographicvisor , where you can make consultations at the level of municipality and department, following the steps in the consultation manual.

    You can also consult the portal of the Colombian Biodiversity Information System - SiB Colombia.

    Both at visor and SiB Colombia you can find information from the Institute Humboldt along with information from other institutions at the national level. It should be noted that the records published through these tools are constantly being updated.
  • Documents and reports: Consult our institutional repository of scientific documentation.
  • BioTableroWeb platform where it is possible to access updated, timely and accurate information on the status of biodiversity in the territory.

    The tool has four modules. The first is geographic consultations, where it is possible to visualize a synthesis of the geographic information available and analyzed in the Institute Humboldt in the different departments or environmental jurisdictions. The second, biodiversity indicators, where it is possible to consult measures that show particular aspects of biodiversity, some quantify it, others speak of its condition or dimension the pressures that affect it. The third module is community monitoring, an initiative to share the results of these processes, such as the one carried out in the Montes de María region. Finally, environmental compensation is a space that allows companies to answer the questions "what? how much? where? and how to compensate? for licensed projects, in licensing or in the diagnosis of alternatives, the latter was developed in collaboration with the Energy Group of Bogotá.
  • BioModelosIt is a web application for the consultation, improvement and publication of species distribution models. This initiative seeks to bring researchers, government institutions, NGOs and citizens closer to accurate information validated by experts on the distribution of species in Colombia, which serves as a reference for studies and decision making on biodiversity.

    ‍Moreinformation.
  • Biodiversity Status and Trends Report (Bio Report): It is a product of an informative nature, which aims to inform the country about the status of its continental biodiversity, in relevant aspects for its integral management.

    ‍Moreinformation.

Note: To use these resources, please take into account and follow the use licenses that have been established by the Institute for the proper use of the information, which can be found in each of the datasets of our catalogs.

How can I purchase printed publications from the Institute Humboldt?

Available publications can be found at Humboldt, as well as the Biodiversity Tarot and other products offered by the Institute.

How can I get a job or internship at the Institute?

We appreciate your interest in joining the Institute, so we invite you to regularly consult our website, in "Work with us" and our social networks. There you can review current vacancies, as well as internship opportunities, identify if any of them are of interest to you and fit your profile, and participate in the calls and invitations we issue.

How can I obtain information about the services offered by the Biological Collections?

Information on the services offered by the Biological Collections, such as deposits, loans and exchange of specimens, student tours, consultation of species lists, scientific visits to review specimens, can be consulted in the collections.

How can I contact the Institute to make other requests, complaints, claims, compliments and suggestions?

If the answers to the frequently asked questions do not solve your concern, we invite you to contact us through the section PQRSF section of our web page or write to us at atencionalciudadano@humboldt.org.co.

 How can I get to know the Institute's facilities Humboldt?

To request tours for groups of students and universities to visit the facilities of the Institute, located in Villa de Leyva, Boyacá, at Cra 8 No. 15 - 08, we invite you to consult educational visit or scientific visit.

For visits to the headquarters of Venado de Oro, located in the city of Bogotá at Avenida Paseo Bolivar (Circunvalar) No. 16-20, we invite you to fill out the form PQRSF.

How can I contact the Institute to make other requests, complaints, claims, compliments and suggestions?

For frequently asked questions about the National Registry of Collections we invite you to go to click here.

Address
Calle 28 A # 15 - 09 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.

The Alexander von Humbolt Biological Resources Research Institute, in order to provide a better service and facilitate interaction with citizens, implemented the Single Window Application, which functions as a guide form for both citizens and entities to raise their Petitions, Complaints, Claims, Suggestions and others; attaching the required documents to process them.

Go to the form here

Address
Calle 28 A # 15 - 09 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
customer service LINES
PBX: (+57) 601 320 2767

We are operating one hundred percent through digital channels. If you want to contact us, just send an email to atencionalciudadano@humboldt.org.co

Address
Calle 28 A # 15 - 09 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
user service hotline
PBX (+57) 601 320 2767
What is the Institute Humboldt?
Does the Institute Humboldt perform environmental impact studies for individuals, issue environmental licenses, biodiversity certificates or AICA?
What is a AICA?
Does the Institute issue concepts in relation to invasive, threatened or endemic species?
What is the role of the Institute in the delimitation of moorlands?
Does the Institute issue certifications on the existence of wetlands?
What are the Institute's lines of action?
Where can I consult information on the species present in the different municipalities of Colombia?
Where can I consult the Institute's publications?
How can I purchase printed publications from the Institute Humboldt?
How can I get a job or internship at the Institute?
How can I obtain information about the services offered by the Biological Collections?
How can I contact the Institute to make other requests, complaints, claims, compliments and suggestions?
 How can I get to know the Institute's facilities Humboldt?
National Registry of Collections
Address
Calle 28 A # 15 - 09 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
Filing petitions, complaints, claims or suggestions.
Address
Calle 28 A # 15 - 09 Bogotá D.C., Colombia
Hours and days of operation
Monday to Friday   8:00 a.m.  5:00 p.m.
customer service LINES
PBX: (+57) 601 320 2767
Requests