Support for biodiversity conservation in Colombia

(Bogota , January 28, 2010 ).- CAF will provide non-reimbursable funds for development of projects which contribute to sustainable development and environmental conservation in Colombia. The announcement was made today by CAF director representative in Colombia Victor Traverso during the signing of agreements with various beneficiary entities in the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development.

Traverso said, "The funds approved for entities and organizations in the environment sector in Colombia, through the Bio-CAF program, is in line with our interest in supporting the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources and eco-systems, incorporating criteria and principles of sustainability in the long term." The multilateral institution believes it is very important to promote biodiversity conservation projects given that this sector has great potential for the sustainable development of the country, as well as generating economic and social benefits for vulnerable population groups, he added.

CAF support for various initiatives in Colombia related to biodiversity and bio-trade has recently made possible leverage of funds from other sources, such as approximately US$2 million from the Global Environment Facility (GEF) for Colombia, executed through the Bio-trade Fund, which uses financial instruments to support projects that contribute to conservation and use of biodiversity.

The projects which received the non-reimbursable finance granted by CAF today include technical assistance for the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territorial Development. In this respect, Vice Minister of Environment Claudia Mora said, "taking into account the urgent need to move ahead with the execution of environmental policies in the forestry area, the Ministry will steer investments into reforestation, and with CAF support structure a Program to Strengthen Forest Management for Conservation, Ecological Restoration and Competitiveness, as well as considering aspects of the National Development Plan, the Millennium Goals, and updating the National Biodiversity Policy, proposed in the framework of the International Year of Biodiversity."

CAF will also support the Administrative Unit of National Natural Parks in declaring the inclusion of Serranía de San Lucas in the National System of Protected Areas. The measure will help conservation in this area located in the middle and lower basin of the Magdalena River, which is now under extreme pressure from colonization, mining practices and exploitation of biological hydro-biological resources on the verge of extinction.

CAF also supports the Natura Colombia Foundation in implementing a strategy to promote good silvopastoral practices in 30 cattle ranches in conservation corridors in Boyacá and Santander departments. This project should improve the productivity of cattle farming by offering better opportunities and economic conditions for producers in the area, and reducing environmental deterioration of forest and water resources. The results will be decisive for steering investments into conservation and sustainable development in various regions of the country.

As part of its objective of promoting regional integration, CAF also supports an initiative by the Regional Natura Foundation for dialogue by local actors on sustainable development in border areas, under the name "Colombia and Ecuador, strategic partners in sustainable development ." The objective is to prepare an agenda for binational cooperation on sustainable development, proposed by civil society, the productive sector, and local governments; and support the collective preparation of a binational Environmental Management Plan for the indigenous people of Los Pastos in Nariño department (Colombia) and El Carchi province (Ecuador).

CAF reaffirmed its commitment to environmental management in Colombia with the announcement that it would continue supporting – with non-reimbursable cooperation funds - initiatives by entities and organizations of civil society aimed at creating synergies and adding value to government efforts to encourage conservation of biodiversity and water resources, risk prevention and mitigation of the effects of climate change, as part of strategies for inclusion of more vulnerable communities.