In July 2025, the Arhuaco community in Colombia's Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta launched an ecological restoration project in the Cesar River basin, aiming to rehabilitate degraded ecosystems and promote sustainable development.
The initiative seeks to restore over 600 hectares of degraded land by implementing agroforestry systems and reintroducing native species. It also aims to enhance the economic autonomy of 115 Arhuaco families through sustainable practices such as organic coffee cultivation and agroforestry production. Additionally, 350 individuals will receive training in ecological education and biodiversity conservation.
The project combines ancestral knowledge with contemporary practices to ensure the long-term protection of Arhuaco territories. The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, recognized as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, is home to unique ecosystems and species, including 17 amphibian species found nowhere else, such as the endangered starry night harlequin toad (*Atelopus arsyecue*). However, the region faces threats from illegal mining and agriculture, leading to deforestation. This restoration effort aligns with broader actions to protect biodiversity in the area, including the expansion of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta National Natural Park to safeguard the ancestral knowledge of the four indigenous ethnic groups settled there and protect the valuable environmental heritage of the mountainous massif.
By integrating traditional wisdom with modern conservation techniques, the Arhuaco community demonstrates a commitment to environmental stewardship and cultural preservation, offering hope for a future where ecological harmony and social well-being coexist.