The increase in human population, habitat destruction, climate change, invasive species, overexploitation of natural resources and environmental pollution have led to a loss of biodiversity on Earth due to the expansion of the urban, agricultural and mining frontiers. This decline is closely related to the extinction of species, which is a natural process, however it is occurring at a higher rate than the natural. According to predictions, current extinction rates are about a thousand times higher than would be expected from the fossil record, and we could be experiencing an eventual mass extinction (National Geographic Society, 2019)

Species are at risk of extinction for two reasons: loss of habitat and loss of genetic variation (Rutledge, K. et al., 2011).

Habitat loss can occur naturally and through anthropogenic actions. In the case of human activity, housing, industrial, and agricultural development contribute to habitat loss for native organisms (Rutledge, K. et al., 2011).

In the Amazon, one of the regions with the most vegetation in the tropics, trees are cut down to establish livestock systems and urban infrastructure. This activity in the rainforest leads to a reduction in diversity since the treetops are home to vine plants, fungi, insects, birds and mammals. In addition, man, by decreasing his habitat, is more likely to come into contact with poisonous plants and wild animals (Rutledge, K. et al., 2011).

The loss of genetic variation, another key aspect in the decline of biodiversity, also occurs naturally and through human action. Some of these actions are over-harvesting, over-fishing, monocultures and the indiscriminate use of fertilizers and pesticides, which leads to a reduction in populations, and in turn, the number of reproductive couples. With fewer pairs, genetic variation decreases, and thus the capacity to adapt to climate change and disease (Rutledge, K. et al., 2011).

To identify the causes and severity of a species' extinction, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) maintains a "Red List of Threatened Species", which classifies information into seven categories: Least Concern, Near Threatened, Vulnerable, Endangered, Critically Endangered, Extinct in the Wild, and Extinct, representing a different level of threat. Species belonging to the threatened or vulnerable categories increase when their population and range decrease (Rutledge, K. et al., 2011).

Colombia is the second most biodiverse country in the world, ranking first in birds and orchids; second in plants, amphibians, butterflies and freshwater fish; third in palms and reptiles; and fourth in mammals. However, about 1,200 species have been identified as threatened according to the criteria of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), so there is a need to conduct an analysis of the distribution of these species and ecological niches, to take preventive or corrective measures in the management of these.

Taking into account this problem, the objective of this project is to interconnect the information obtained from satellites of the different space agencies, with digital tools of free use that facilitate the visualization, processing and modeling of data related to the monitoring, conservation of species in danger of extinction.

http://www.humboldt.org.co/es/boletines-y-comunicados/item/1087-biodiversidad-colombiana-numero-tener-en-cuenta