ZMT - Leibniz Zentrum für Marine Tropenforschung

Towards a long-lasting and equitable partnership.

COLDEMAR is a long-term Colombian-German research partnership between the Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) and the Institute of Marine Sciences and Limnology (INCIMAR) at Universidad del Valle. The partnership aims to strengthen collaborative research on biodiversity loss, climate change, and human pressures affecting Colombia’s tropical marine and coastal ecosystems.

COLDEMAR combines joint research teams, long-term ecosystem monitoring, shared scientific infrastructure, pilot field and laboratory studies, and interdisciplinary training for early-career researchers. It strengthens existing scientific networks while fostering new connections among Colombian, German, and international partners. Its work spans a range of interconnected topics, including biodiversity, oceanography and climate change, ecosystem resilience and restoration, fisheries, tourism, and social responses to environmental change.

A key component of COLDEMAR is the close collaboration and co-creation of knowledge with coastal communities, environmental organisations, government authorities and other relevant stakeholders. Scientific knowledge generated through the partnership will contribute to nature-based solutions, sustainable resource use and management, ecosystem restoration and climate adaptation.

Looking ahead, COLDEMAR aims to develop into a lasting hub for tropical marine research, connecting Colombian, German and international scientists around environmental challenges. By creating new opportunities for joint research and strengthening Colombia’s participation in global scientific networks, COLDEMAR will generate relevant knowledge not only to Colombia but to tropical marine ecosystems worldwide.