10%

Sowing community and conservation

How Colombia’s community-led initiatives have increased sustainability, inclusion and peace

December 12^th, 2024

“The UNDP regional teams and country teams work through field operations and have detailed knowledge of the country. Through this close relationship, the regional teams can accompany and even co-lead on strategic, high-level portfolio discussions with national counterparts. This dynamic allows the country office to mobilize, combine, and sequence environmental finance to support the right policy and governance frameworks to push progress, drive innovation, open up new opportunities, and connect the dots across all of UNDP’s development mandates.”

- Lyes Ferroukhi, Regional Team Lead for Environment and Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean, UNDP

When the ‘Connectivity and Biodiversity Conservation in the Colombian Amazon: Sustainable Amazonia for Peace' project began, deforestation was at a record high. Around 82,883 hectares, was lost each year. Deforestation was driven by poverty resulting from social inequity and armed conflicts.

Rich biodiversity was under threat, including the iconic jaguar, the third largest cat species in the world, and the many species with which it shares its habitat. As part of a larger effort, the project set out to protect the biodiversity that underpins livelihoods, while contributing to peacebuilding and bringing about environmental and climate benefits. Funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) and led by the World Bank, the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program is underway in seven countries, with UNDP implementing projects in Colombia, Peru, and Suriname.

“UNDP and its partners have recognized that reconciliation needs to be fostered by working with local people in their territories and putting in place sustainable livelihood options. This has been an essential element of the success that the project was able to achieve by integrating families, victims of the armed conflict, former combatants, and social organizations. When families are supported with training and alternative income opportunities, they can transition away from harmful or illegal practices.”

- Alexandra Fischer, Senior Technical Advisor for Ecosystems and Biodiversity, UNDP

Communities have found alternative sources of income to deforestation, illicit crop production, and mining. They have slowly regained autonomy in the forests. Little by little, through training, joint discussion, financial support and access to new markets, a fresh vision of the future is being forged. One where those who unite through work and effort can improve their quality of life, their safety, and the conservation of the environment for future generations.

These efforts can take the form of creating a strong network of plant nurseries to cultivate and sell seeds, seedlings, and native trees, or growing orchards to restore the forest and sequester carbon. Farmers are now selling honey, spices like pepper and turmeric, pineapple and bananas, free-range chickens and milk, and linking to local companies and processors and new markets.

Farmers have tried new and more sustainable farming practices, resulting in landscapes that are better managed, as well as water resources that are used more efficiently.

“Our partners trust the United Nations, which is very important. Of course, there have been issues that have arisen. We all have troubles to face. But the portfolio has tripled during the last 10 years, which shows us we are doing something right. The technical capacities that UNDP brings to these territories and to national counterparts are highly appreciated. Trust has been created as part of this process, against a backdrop of conflict that can be problematic and presents situations that are full of contrast. The role of an agency like UNDP is very important in building trust with the different actors and connecting them to achieve strong results, like protecting the environment.”

– Jimena Puyana, Manager, Head of Sustainable Development, UNDP Colombia

Tackling challenges for long-term change

Linking victims of conflict to social organizations has created new opportunities and income possibilities. Farmers have built relationships with 18 organizations, from NGOs to private companies. They have increased their production of everything from red tilapia to pineapple, hot peppers, watermelon, passionfruit and eggplants..

“Supérate is committed to building peace in Colombia, because when there is work, health and education, we are rebuilding our country. The idea is to create jobs.”

- Sara Olea, president, Supérate, the Association of Women Renewing Life in the department of Sucre

Sara Ole, 50, leads Supérate, the Association of Women Renewing Life in the department of Sucre. The association brings together 23 extraordinary women who have overcome the effects that the armed conflict left on their bodies. Supérate was established in 2014 to support women who have either been victims of sexual violence or had been inducted into paramilitary groups. It is part of Somos Rurales, a project of the Ministry of Labour and UNDP to economically empower victims.

“The territorial approach we have taken has helped us identify problems in specific areas. We have an environmental strategy that is more than executing projects. We are implementing territorial strategies linked to different needs. In La Mojana, we focused on climate impacts. In the Amazon, a highly diverse environment and one of the most important in the world, the strategy is to connect peace and environment, because these ecosystems are most affected by armed conflict. This narrative helps us connect different sources of targeted funding, from donors and the government. We have been strategic in connecting public funds with vertical and bilateral funds, and the government has adopted favorable policy as result of these strategic, long-term interventions.”

– Jimena Puyana, Manager, Head of Sustainable Development, UNDP Colombia

As communities in Colombia come together to mend the fabric of a society torn by conflict, a new future is emerging. Every tree planted, every river and wetland restored, is a step toward peace and a promise to future generations. Such a transformation has demanded sustained commitment -- from local communities, the government, UNDP and its partners. Its strength and momentum show no sign of slowing down.

“UNDP has found that it has this role in bringing people together, and it is trusted. It is this trust that allows UNDP to go into very complicated territories and work with overlooked communities, often on an environmental agenda that considers these long-term strategies, to help rebuild development processes that may have been neglected. And that is where we can bring in all the tools we have in our arsenal. In the case of the regional teams, that means bringing together global and regional initiatives across different communities.”