From the transect-studies of the Central, Eastern and Western Cordillera, that will be published in this and the following three volumes, those of the Central Cordillera comprise a very large quantity of data, including extensive studies on soil erosion, soil palynology, vegetation and c1imate,etc. For that reason there will be, besides the initial data presented in vol.1, two more volumes on the Central Cordillera Parque los Nevados transect: this one (vol.3) and the next (vol.4). It is for that reason that this volume 3 does not yet contain a final integration chapter: that will be given at the end of volume 4, when all the available data can be used. By initiative of the group of researchers of the Ecoandes team, the special protection was asked to the government of Colombia of the Tatamá area in the Cordillera Occidental, where an important part of the Tatamá transect was carried out. In 1987 the President of Colombia signed the decree declaring this extraordinary area National Park.
Thomas van der Hammen
Cordillera Kolumbien soil vegetation