OVERVIEW

Conservation and Governance seeks to reduce deforestation in the Amazon and create environmentally sustainable, legal economic opportunities. The activity incentivizes biodiversity conservation by supporting market-based value chains and by encouraging public and private sector investment in these areas. The activity also protects existing forests, rehabilitates degraded land, and constructs ecological corridors that connect smaller patches of forests to one another.  Conservation and Governance runs from July 2013 - December 2020. 

The Colombia Amazon was negatively impacted by the country’s 52-year armed conflict and is the epicenter of deforestation in Colombia.  Conservation and Governance supports Peace Agreement implementation and land conservation efforts in this region by developing sustainable economic opportunities.  Economic development depends on improved conservation because ecosystems provide direct-use goods and services, like food, medicine, fuel and water, as well as indirect-use services, like soil formation, water purification and recreation.

COMPONENTS

PROTECTING PRIORITY ECOSYSTEMS

Conservation and Governance reduces deforestation through conservation agreements that incorporate productive activities, forests and water conservation, and land rehabilitation. The activity helps national and regional institutions establish and manage protected areas, including private nature reserves. 

DEVELOPING CONSERVATION Economic Incentives 

Conservation and Governance develops sustainable production systems that are linked to growing markets.  The activity also improves biodiversity conservation through the creation of conservation corridors that connect smaller forested areas to one another, and through the application of payment for environmental services (PES) mechanisms.

RESULTS

• Improved natural resource management of 338,702 hectares (Ha) of land in the Amazon, with 2,072 Ha employing sustainable productive practices;
• Improved the economic wellbeing of 2,298 citizens through the development of licit, sustainable economic activities;
• Leveraged USD $4.6 million from public and private partners to support licit economic alternatives and increase biodiversity conservation; 
• Strengthened natural resources governance capacities of 155 local institutions;
• Trained 8,534 people in biodiversity conservation and natural resources management; and
• Helped propose 51 laws and/or regulations to address biodiversity conservation and natural resources management.