7/10 PHOTO ESSAY: It takes 2 years from a planted seed to grow this high. The National Army working on wax palm plantation in Cocora Valley, Colombia.

---

The government of Belisario Betancur (1982-86) proposed the preservation of the wax palm as the national symbol of Colombia. Wax palms provide habitats for many unique life forms, including endangered species such as the yellow-eared parrot. It achieves a minimum reproductive age at 80 years.

---

Size: 4016px × 6016px
Location: Cocora Valley, Salento, Quindio, Colombia
Photo credit: © Ida Pap / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: agricultural, agriculture, agronomy, andes, cocora, colombia, countryside, culture, documentary, ecological, editorial, environment, environmental, essay, farm, growing, lined, nursery, outdoor, palm, palms, photo, plant, plantation, planted, planting, plants, preservation, project, quindio, reportage, rural, valley, wax