There is a lack of planning and environmental management tools for the protection, use, and management of indigenous territories that are focused on the indigenous worldview and that capture their own forms of land use planning at the material and spiritual level, in environmentally strategic places inhabited by indigenous groups. The effects of climate change are felt in these points through avalanches (Putumayo and San Francisco Rivers), floods (Mocoa and Caquetá Rivers) and the disappearance of wetlands in the Sibundoy Valley and of their páramos due both to the expansion of the agricultural frontier as well as increased temperatures. In addition, they are also abandoning their own cultivations systems due to climatic extremes, which have disoriented ancient practices and knowledge on managing the land. As such, semi-due both to the expansion of the agricultural frontier as well as increased temperatures. In addition, they are also abandoning their own cultivations systems due to climatic extremes, which have disoriented ancient practices and knowledge on managing the land. As such, semi-seasonal monocultures are being carried today out with a high use of agrochemicals, which causes deforestation, as well as the creation of enclosures for ranching at minimal productivity rates per area of land. Shifts are taking place from the places where hunting, fishing, and gathering activities were customarily carried out due to changes in rain patterns or summer seasons, which affect the offering of environmental goods and services. This forces communities to carry out those activities in zones with endemic species in a fragile state of survival. It is also important to emphasize that the transformation of natural landscapes due to the erosion of soils entails the loss of sacred places where special rituals were carried out as part of the indigenous groups’ social structures. Moreover, the existence of migratory species that used to visit certain places while passing through indigenous territories, and which are no longer seen today, has contributed to extinguishing the beliefs, myths, and legends that were woven around those species. In addition, said species served as bioindicators of periods of rain or summer, according to which fishing, planting, gathering, and the construction of houses and rituals were carried out, amongst other actions related with the environment.

An analysis of the territorial situation of the indigenous groups shows a scenario of great restrictions, turning this phenomenon into one of the greatest challenges to ensuring their development or creating opportunities that would allow their cultures to reproduce.

Having an awareness of the components of their territories, (such as forests, sources of water, productive places, and places for housing, hunting, fishing, and sacred places), locating the places most important for their survival, and documenting the manners in which they must be used and managed according to their traditional knowledge and techniques, is a guarantee for the survival of their cultural identities, given that it ensures an offering of environmental goods and services that satisfies their needs.