The Chocó region
ARTIKKEL
The Chocó region
Chocó ( marked in red ) is a department of Western Colombia ( marked in yellow ) known for its large Afro-Colombian population . The Chocó Department is covered mostly by the Baudó Mountains . The total population as of 2005 was less than half a million , with more than half living in the Quibdó valley . According to a 2005 census the ethnic composition of the department is :
• Afro-Colombians ( 82.1 %)
• Amerindians or Indigenous ( 12.7 %)
• Whites and Crossbreds ( 5.2 %) The Chocó Biogeographic , which has tropical rainforests that surpass 46,000 square kilometers , and where one of the greatest riches in biological diversity of the planet is concentrated .
The population has been forced over the years to migrate to populated centers to settle in city slums . Because of the low level of development in the region , Chocó sees significant aid money pour in , but there is little to show for it , in large part due to the corruption . Colombia as a whole is rated highly corrupt by Transparency International , and this is particularly a problem in Chocó . The primary industry in Chocó is gold and silver extraction , which leads to significant deforestation and the disappearance of plant species . In 2014 , 36,185 hectares of rainforest was destroyed by backhoes , dredgers and rafts that have devastated land and rivers . There are some movements against mining in the regions , but few economic alternatives . Local enterprise suffers from a lack of technological development and road infrastructure systems that prevent the connection of this area with other territories of Colombia and the world . The scarce money the population earns for the sale of their products is not enough to obtain finished products ; therefore , the territory does not have an economic dynamic of growth , resulting in a mindset of dependency on the government .
No major highway has been worked on since initial foundations were laid down in 1967 . This roadway would have successfully linked Chocó to the nearest large city , Medellin , providing easier access to medical care , necessities , food , and more . Currently , depending on their location , residents of Chocó who are in a medical emergency , and who do have access to vehicular transport , face an unpredictable journey . This trip could take several hours to several days , depending on their starting point . This is provided that the existing small roads aren ' t flooded , shut down , or otherwise blocked ; some remote indigenous communities have no other option than to canoe or boat by river to Quibdó Chocó is one of the most violent and corrupt territories in Colombia . In 2016 , there were 30 murders per 100.000 habitants , and thousands of people have been displaced by violence in a region with lucrative criminal economies in drug trafficking and illegal gold mining . Furthermore , the Colombian armed conflict has increased the vulnerability of the communities and ecosystems in these territories .
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