Interview with Juan Jaramillo

Tell us a bit about your background in road ecology and how you became involved with the LACTWG. 

Initially, my work in road ecology began in Spain, at the University of Santiago de Compostela, where a research group studying wild animals addressed the issue of wildlife roadkill in the Iberian Peninsula. From there, this topic—new to me at the time—caught my interest. I started getting involved in various projects within the university, and in 2013, when I returned to Colombia to the ITM university institution, I searched for references on this issue in the country. However, I found very little or no information on the subject, which led me to explore and establish a line of research in this field. 

This allowed me to develop my first research project in 2014. Since then, several research projects have been carried out at the same institution, approaching this field from different perspectives, including genetics studies, predictive models, and analyses beyond wildlife roadkill, exploring other types of impacts. Additionally, the effects of road infrastructure on different groups, such as insects and bats, have been studied. In 2013, I had the opportunity to create the RECOSFA application, which has since been used to report information on wildlife roadkill across the country. 

My involvement with the Latin America and Caribbean group began with my participation in the Ibero-American Congress on Biodiversity in Road Infrastructure, held in Brazil. From there, I had the opportunity to meet prominent researchers from Latin America and the Caribbean, allowing me to collaborate with them and learn from their experiences. Since then, and particularly since 2016, I have maintained contact with most of the researchers involved in this group. In recent years, I have had the privilege of serving as co-chair of the Latin America and Caribbean working group, alongside colleagues from Brazil, Costa Rica, Argentina, and Tony Clevenger. 

 How do you see the development of road ecology in Colombia, including the main advancements and challenges? 

In Colombia, the study of road ecology is relatively recent. It can be said that starting in 2013-2014, there was a notable increase in publications and interest in the topic. However, in recent years, there have been significant advances at a rapid pace. Currently, national initiatives are supported by the Ministry of Environment, the Ministry of Transport, the National Infrastructure Agency, the National Road Safety Agency, and the National Roads Agency. These institutions now have professionals dedicated to studying wildlife roadkill. Public guides and documents have been developed to help understand and diagnose the impact of roadkill. Personally, we have collaborated with the national government to develop a guide on how to assess this issue. Additionally, road green infrastructure guidelines have been created—an essential document aimed at mitigating environmental impacts throughout the different stages of road development. 

At the research level, more studies are being presented at specialized conferences. To date, we have organized five Colombian symposia on road ecology, where we have observed the growth in both the number and quality of research studies, as well as the integration of new trends in the field. It is rewarding to see how the study of road impacts has evolved, incorporating tools such as artificial intelligence, molecular genetics with barcoding, and impact assessments on insects, water sources, and bats. Predictive models have also been developed to analyze land-use changes and the accumulation of roadkill incidents.  

Despite these advancements, many challenges remain. There is still much to understand and many preventive and mitigation measures to implement. Nevertheless, I believe the country is moving forward at a promising pace that will allow for continued progress in the coming years. 

 Are there initiatives in Colombia that could serve as examples for other countries in the region? 

I believe that Colombia’s progress in this field is partly due to learning from other countries. However, a key factor has been the opportunity to work with professionals from diverse disciplines, such as mechatronic engineers, civil engineers, genetics specialists, and restoration experts. This interdisciplinary collaboration has enabled us to approach the impacts of roads in a more comprehensive and holistic way, covering various aspects. In this regard, Colombia has developed initiatives that could support other countries, particularly in integrating different perspectives and leveraging new technologies. One notable aspect has been the inclusion of specific taxonomic groups, such as insects, due to their crucial role in providing ecosystem services. At the same time, efforts have been made to implement targeted prevention and mitigation measures for certain species, focusing on ecological connectivity, resistance mapping, and satellite tracking.  

Another significant advancement is the incorporation of forensic entomology into road studies, as well as the involvement of forensic veterinarians in analyzing the circumstances of animal deaths on roads. This has helped reveal that some of these deaths are not the direct result of roadkill but rather cases of animal abuse occurring on farms, estates, or rural homes, with the animals later being dumped on roads to conceal these acts. Additionally, a remarkable aspect of Colombia’s progress is the strong collaboration between government institutions and academia. An interministerial committee has been established, where academia plays a fundamental role in supporting decision-making through science-based research. 

 What do you foresee as future directions and priorities for this group? 

For the Latin America and Caribbean group, I believe we must continue building an initiative that integrates more countries. In some of them, road ecology is still in its early stages, while others have already gained extensive experience that could help accelerate progress in the region. Our shared goal is the conservation of biodiversity along the roads of Latin America and the Caribbean. Beyond the individual challenges of each country, this should remain our core objective. As a group, we must increasingly position ourselves as a key support mechanism for decision-making in the planning and design of major infrastructure projects. These projects should incorporate the technical and academic knowledge possessed by the professionals within the group. Finally, it is crucial that we embrace new approaches for studying, monitoring, and mitigating the impacts of infrastructure. This includes leveraging emerging tools such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and other technologies that allow for a more comprehensive and accurate understanding of these impacts.