This quotation by the German scientist Alexander von Humboldt from the year 1845 is more relevant today than ever before. Humboldt was one of the first great explorers to devote himself to intensive research into biological diversity. It was 200 years ago, during one of his South America expeditions, when Humboldt stepped onto Colombian soil for the first time. Here he discovered a country that was, and still is, unsurpassed in its biological diversity.

Marking this anniversary, a German-Colombian symposium of experts was held at the Humboldt Institute in the Colombian city of Villa del Leyva to discuss issues of biodiversity. The symposium was supported by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ).
The symposium was followed directly by a 24-hour marathon inventory of biological diversity in the nearby Andes region. These two events were the focus of this year's
GEO Biodiversity Day.