Amazon Conservation Team Collaboration in Colombia
Earlier this month, ACT’s international staff gathered in Bogotá, Colombia, to reinforce our commitment to working across boundaries and cultures. Team members from the U.S., Brazil, Costa Rica, and the Guianas convened to advance our shared mission: partnering with indigenous and local communities to protect tropical forests and strengthen traditional cultures.
Planning for the Year Ahead
In Bogotá, our team reflected on accomplishments, discussed challenges, and mapped out the path forward. The exchange of ideas reinforced the importance of a cross-cultural approach to conservation. This gathering allowed us to assess progress, refine strategies, and renew our vision for sustainability and growth.
Visiting Sacred Lands and Communities
After our meetings, we traveled to the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, home to several indigenous partners, including the Kogui, Arhuaco, Wiwa, and Kankuamo peoples. We visited Jaba Tañiwashkaka, a 528-acre sacred site that ACT worked with the Kogui to reclaim.
The visit reaffirmed our commitment to indigenous-led conservation. Juana Londoño, coordinator of our Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta program, shared insights into our work, followed by presentations from indigenous representatives on their projects and aspirations. Their voices underscored the necessity of legal recognition and protection of ancestral lands, a mission ACT has supported for over a decade.
The Power of Partnership
Protecting indigenous lands is vital to preserving cultural and ecological heritage. As Kogui community member José María Conchacla Mojica described:
“For us, the territory is a unity. It is like a house. Everything is there: the culture and the knowledge. But legally, this did not belong to the indigenous people. Through the legal expansion, that territory now belongs to us. It belongs to the community. This is very important because now we can be present in this place; we can be at peace.”
His words highlight the transformative impact of securing indigenous land rights.
Engaging with Campesino Communities
We also met with campesino communities, led by Patricia Navarrete, ACT’s Caquetá & Livelihoods Coordinator. At a local farm, campesinos shared their agricultural plans and market challenges. A family welcomed us with homegrown food and shared how ACT has helped improve their production and livelihoods.
Visiting a nursery filled with native plant seedlings, we saw efforts to support both economic and reforestation goals, enhancing local livelihoods while restoring the environment.
Looking Ahead
Our time in Colombia reinforced the importance of working together across cultures and geographies. Periodic in-person gatherings strengthen our shared purpose and partnerships.
Our journey was not just about planning—it was a testament to collaboration. Moving forward, we remain committed to protecting the Amazon, preserving traditional cultures, and supporting the communities that call these lands home.
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