Abstract
Strategic wetlands in the Colombian Caribbean underpin local livelihoods through vital ecosystem services, yet they face severe degradation from hydrological alterations, urbanization, and anthropogenic pressures. To address the lack of integrated socioecological evaluations, this study examines community–wetland relationships, ecosystem reliance, environmental perceptions, and governance arrangements. We used a multi-scale approach, combining a regional baseline assessment of 25 strategic wetlands with localized empirical fieldwork across three contrasting study sites: Sinú-Cispatá, Magdalena River estuary, and Tasajera–Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta. We collected data through 150 structured household surveys, semi-structured interviews, and participatory social cartography. Findings reveal a strong, structural dependence on wetland resources, dominated by artisanal fisheries, navigation, and mangrove-based livelihoods. Communities consistently link ecosystem decline to hydrological disruptions, fisheries collapse, and deteriorating water quality, with marked spatial variations driven by urban–industrial stress in Atlántico versus hydrological fragmentation in Magdalena. Results also highlight significant governance gaps, including institutional distance and multi-agency fragmentation between regional environmental authorities and fisheries bodies. Ultimately, this research underscores the necessity of establishing participatory, territorially grounded governance frameworks that integrate local ecological knowledge, community-based monitoring, and adaptive management to foster long-term socioecological resilience in Caribbean wetlands.