The protected areas of Colombia are grouped in the National System of Protected Areas. As of 2008, it had 58 natural national parks which cover and represent more than 10% of the country’s continental land.

The National System of Protected Areas comprises four broad groups:

• National protected areas, most of them in the Natural National Park System
• Regional protected areas
• Local protected areas
• Private protected areas

The National Natural Park System is divided into natural national parks, fauna and flora sanctuaries, natural reserves, unique natural areas and one vía parque (park along a road).

There are currently two proposed areas for national natural parks and a number of additional locations could be declared fauna and flora sanctuaries.

Some zones of the park system have been disbanded because of negative human impact on the environment.