City Development, Natural Resources and Human Impact: The Case of Medellin, Colombia

Michel Hermelin

Department of Geology, Universidad EAFIT, Medellin, Colombia.

DOI: 10.4236/nr.2013.48058                

Abstract

Medellin is a 3.5 M inhabitant city located in an Andean valley in northwestern Colombia. Its initial prosperity was due to agriculture and cattle-raising carried out in the valley itself and sold to the surrounding gold mining fields. The investment of these monies in coffee plantations and industry boosted the city development, accelerated urban growth, and since the middle of twentieth century, relegated food production to surrounding regions, which are also responsible for almost the totality of natural resource supply: water, electricity, food, building and industrial raw materials. Among the problems which will have to be solved in order to reach a sustainable development are relocation of population living in areas exposed to natural risks, improvement of road communications with surrounding regions and of internal public transportation and pollution control.

Keywords

Urban Growth; Urban Natural Resources; Colombia

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

References

[1]	J. J. Parsons., “Antioqueno Colonization in Western Colombia,” University of California Press, Berkeley, 1994, 212 p.
[2]	B, Patino, “Wealth, Poverty and Social Differenciation in the Antioquia Province during 16th Century (in Spanish),” Universidad de Antioquia, Clio, 2011, 281p.
[3]	J. Diamond, “Guns, Germs and Steel. The Fates of Human Societies,” W.W. Norton & Company, New York, London, 1997.
[4]	G. Reichel-Dolmatoff, “Indigenous Colombia, Prehispanic Period (in Spanish),” In: Nueva Historia de Colombia, Vol. 1, Colombia Indígena, Conquista y Colonia, Bogotá, Editorial Planeta, 1989, pp. 27-68.
[5]	J. Aprile-Gniset, “The Colombian City Prehispanic, Conquest and Indian (in Spanish),” Biblioteca Banco Popular, Vol. 1, 1991, 568 p.
[6]	C. O. Sauer, “The Early Spanish,” Main University of California Press, Berkely, 1969, 306 p.
[7]	J. Friede, “Territory Conquest and Human Settlement (in Spanish),” In: Nueva Historia de Colombia, Vol. 1, Colombia indígena, Conquista y Colonia, Bogotá, Editorial Planeta, 1989, pp. 69-115
[8]	R. C. West, “Colonial Placer Mining in Colombia,” Louisiana State University, 1952, 159 p.
[9]	G. Botero, “Contribution to the Geology of Antiquia’s Central Zone (in Spanish),” Anales de la Facultad de Mina, Medellín, No. 57, 1963, 101 p.
[10]	Ingeominas, “Geologic Map of the Antioquia Department, scale 1:400 000 (in Spanish),” Memoria Explicativa, Medellín. Servicio Geológico Nacional, 2001, 240 p.
[11]	G. Toro and M. Hermelin, “Stratigraphy of Volcanic Ashes from South Antioquia, Colombia: Possible Climatic Implications,” Quaternary of South America and Antartic Peninsula, Vol. 8, 1991, pp. 201-217.
[12]	G. E. Toro, M. Hermelin, E. Schwabe, M. P. Posada, D. Silva. And G. Poupeau, “Fission Track Dating and Geomorphic Evidence for Long Term Stability in the Central Cordillera Highlands, Colombia,” Zeitschrift fur Geomorphologie, Supplement Band, 2006, p. 1-16.
[13]	C. Pérez, “The Aburra Valley Ecosystems, Past, Present and Future (in Spanish),” Memorias, Seminario “Una mirada a Medellín y al valle de Aburrá”, Medellín: Universidad Nacional, Biblioteca Pública Piloto, Consejería Presidencia para Medellín y su área Metropolitana, Alcaldía de Medellín, 1993, pp. 63-104.
[14]	V. álvarez, “Population and Settlement in the Aburra Valley, 1541-1951 (in Spanish),” Historia de Medellín, Companía Suramericana de Seguros, 1996, pp. 57-84.
[15]	J. A. Benítez, The Medellin’s “carnero”, R. L. Jaramillo, Editor Ediciones Autores Antioquenos, Medellín, 1988, 440 p.
[16]	M. Hermelin, “Human Impact,” In: M. Hermelin, A. Echeverry and J. Giraldo, Eds., Environment Urbanism Society, Medellin. E-Book Edited by Universidad EAFIT, 2011.
[17]	M. I. Ramírez and H. Caballero, “Sustainability of the Exploitation of Building Materials in the Aburra Valley (in Spanish),” Proyecto de Grado, Ingeniería Geológica, Facultad de Minas, Universidad Nacional, Medellín, 2008.
[18]	Metropolitana-Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana, Special Simulations, Task No. 1: Optimization of the Atmospheric Emission Inventory (in Spanish). Convenio de Asociación 543 de 2008, Acta No. 3, 2009, p. 121
[19]	L. C. Agudelo, “Sustainability Indicatorsand Land Use Planning. Ecological Footprint and Strategic Ecosystems in Medellin, Colombia (in Spanish),” Región, Ciudad y áreas Protegidas. FESCOL/CEREC, Bogotá, 2005, 24 p.
[20]	A. Twinam, “Miners, Merchants and Farmers: The Roots of the Antioquian Business Spirit, 1763-1810 (in Spanish),” FAES, Biblioteca Colombiana de Ciencias Sociales, Medellín, 1985, 252 p.
[21]	N. Matthieu and Y. Guermond, “The Sustainable City, from Politics to Science (in French),” Editions Quae. Dialogues, 2011.
[22]	E. Sanchez-Triana, K. Ahmed and Y. Awe, “Prioridades Ambientales Para la Reducción de la Pobreza en Colombia,” Un Análisis Ambiental del País Para Colombia (in Spanish). Banco Mundial, Mayorl Ediciones, Washington, 2008, 498 p.