Anterior siguiente

Sustainable development and forest conservation

Sustainable development and forest conservation for Guaviare through 10 agri-environmental projects

• Agroforestry, silvopastoral systems, agro-tourism, non-timber products, rubber, cocoa and meat and milk re-conversion are the core project activities for the region.
• Local associations receive with great acceptance the launch of the agro-environmental projects of Visión Amazonia.

Bogotá, D.C. August 09, 2017. (MADS). The Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development and the Visión Amazonia program carried out in San José del Guaviare the official presentation of the 10 agro-environmental projects approved for the department.

The projects will be developed through the Agroambiental pillar of Visión Amazonia and aim to boost the economy and the development of the region in a sustainable way, while at the same time curbing deforestation in this part of the country. The communities will have access to the projects through the local partnerships with which they will work through conservation agreements.

“It is the first time that projects that fit the orientation and vocation of Miraflores come and that is why it is important to organize, generate all the alternatives to ask and listen to see what is the best way to access resources. From the Municipality we are facilitating all the possible tools so that this type of strategies like Vision Amazonía can reach the community. Vision Amazonia is a valuable opportunity to promote a model of productive development proper to the Municipality, “explained Rubi Lemus Beltrán, delegate of the municipality of Miraflores who believes that Visión Amazonia represents a valuable development alternative for the municipality that has limited institutional capacity.

Exactly in Miraflores will be developed 2, of the ten initiatives that there are for the department; 3 more will be held in San Jose del Guaviare, 3 in El Retorno and 2 in Calamar. These projects will focus on agroforestry systems, silvopastoral systems, agro-tourism, non-timber forest products, rubber, cocoa and beef and milk re-conversion, which will benefit a total of 2,127 families, who through the development of production will conserve 245,794 hectares of forest.

The Governor of Guaviare, Nebio de Jesús Echeverry, stressed the importance of these projects for the economic and social development of the department: “Thanks to the cooperation of the governments of Germany, Norway, United Kingdom and the joint work of the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development through the Visión Amazônia program, we are taking a historic step towards the protection and conservation of forests and the sustainable use of the soil, from the development of these projects focused on chains of cocoa and rubber timber forest products and agro-tourism “.

In addition to supporting the improvement of the quality of life of the communities and each of the families. These projects of productive transformation promote good agricultural and livestock practices and generate local capacities, all aligned with productive chains that allow to appropriate the competitiveness and the environmental performance of the region. “My commitment and that of my government team is to be linked to the development of the implementation of Amazonian Vision in Guaviare, so that once again, work and experience will be agents of change and recovery of our dear Guaviare,” Echeverry said.

For the representatives of the local associations there are great expectations the development of the programs from which they expect transparency and opportunities for their communities. “Taking advantage of the tools and instruments that the alliance with Visión Amazonía gives us, we expect some basic minimum methodological aspects as users and as peasants, in such a way that people understand that they can live perfectly and sustainably in the forest,” said Gustavo Adolfo Rendón Restrepo, representative of the Corpolindosa association that supports 477 families.

Rosa Nidia Murcia, representative of the association of recyclers Armag expects transparency to be synonymous with approved projects. “What we most hope is that these projects are really productive, transparent and fair with people and with legal and organized associations, that we are fighting to improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of Guaviare and to protect the environment of our territory “.

The event was also attended by the Governor of Guaviare, Nebio de Jesús Echeverry; Adrián Querubín, secretary of departmental culture; Diana Lucena, delegate of the Serrania del Chiribiquete Park; Bernardo Giraldo, delegate of the SINCHI Institute; Pedro Salazar, manager of the ICA and representatives of different peasant associations of Guaviare, among others.

The Agro-Environmental Pillar

Has as purpose:
It aims to reduce deforestation in the Colombian Amazon by implementing sustainable predictive processes that improve the income and quality of life of local populations, conservation of Amazonian biodiversity and compliance with the goal of zero net deforestation in 2020.