12 Months, 12 Achievements to Share WWF Colombia 2013

WWF Colombia 2013 12 months, 12 achievementstoshare

REFLECTIONS 2013

Another year has passed in a flash; a year of hard work, incredible challenges but also encouraging and exciting results and achievements, as well as benchmarks for WWF in Co- lombia. Twenty years ago, WWF opened its doors in Colom- CONTENT bia with the establishment of an office in Cali. Nearly ten years later, we established our office in Bogota to strengthen

© Andrea Parra / WWF our policy engagement and work with the national government. Both were undoubtedly key decisions for WWF as an organization and network, and as a result we count on a strong presence and positive image in Co- OPINION COLUMN: 2013, 20 YEARS lombia and the region. WWF WORK AT HOME We arrived at a time of considerable political turmoil in Colombia, with some notable sad moments where many including colleagues were the victim of violence, and have seen an incredible evolution in the development of the country and in the positioning of an environmental agenda. Recently, we celebrated the 30 year anniversary of Fundacion Natura in Colombia, one of the most impor- Three countries, one conservation landscape 4 tant conservation organizations and a long-standing WWF partner, the 20 year anniversary of the Private Lands Conservation Network, a movement that WWF helped to build, the expansion and Protected Areas at the crossroads of Climate Change 5 strengthening of the national protected areas system and regional initiatives such as RedParques and the Amazon Biome Vision that WWF Colombia has helped to develop. In 1993, there were 43 Citizen action roundtables 6 PA and today, Colombia counts on 58 (the 58th declared on December 18, 2013) national protected areas and many more regional public and private protected areas including one of the largest in the Ecosystem Vision for the Conservation of the Amazon Biome 7 world with the expansion of Chiribiquete in the Colombian Amazon (1.8 millions hectares) approved in October of this year. We applaud the leadership of the National Parks Agency of Colombia. Fur- Discovery of a new species to science: a small frog 8 ther, the interest and recognition of conservation and environmental stewardship as the foundation for sustainable development have grown, and as a result, we have established significant and cons- BIBO, A commitment by WWF and El Espectador tructive engagement with the business and productive sector, promoting stewardship and footprint to preserve forests in Colombia 9 reduction. Media partners, such as El Espectador and the Bibo campaign, are allies in getting the message to the public and influencing opinion and awareness. Building alliances to reduce the business sector footprint in Colombia 10

We are proud of what we have been able to achieve that has only been possible thanks to the partners More biodiversity in palm plantations 11 and allies, communities and NGO´s, national and subnational government institutions, private sector organizations and the WWF Network, as well as key cooperating agencies such as the European Two Colombian cities in the global race for the City Challenge prize 12 Union, DFID, and USAID. And very personally, I have been lucky to count on an excellent team in WWF Colombia, whose untiring commitment to conservation and excellent human qualities and Panama’s Embera-Wounnan communities achieve dose of humor have made the work less like work. the country’s first natural forest certification 13

We want to share with you some of the highlights from the past year. These achievements are a A new sanctuary for Atlantic Leatherback and foundation to continue to confront the significant challenges that remain from the drive for short- Hawksbill Turtles, contributing to CBD commitments towards term economic gain that still outweighs a vision of longer-term sustainability and valuing of ecosys- an increased protection of marine ecosystems and WWF Species Action plan 14 tems and the services they provide. And take the opportunity to wish you all the very best in this holiday season and that 2014 brings peace and greater harmony to Colombia and other parts of the world and a more sustainable and equitable future for all.

Mary Lou Higgins Director Northern Amazon & Choco Darien ProgramWWF

2 WWF Colombia 20 años trabajo por el país WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country © Ferney Díaz / WWF © Eliana Bossa / WWF

Three countries, one conservation landscape Protected Areas at the crossroads of Climate Change

Putumayo Tres Fronteras (P3F) is a conservation corridor that com- Thanks to the commitment and joint efforts of grassroots organizations, the Natio- prises more than four million hectares and runs across three countries nal Natural Parks System, academics, researchers and WWF Colombia staff, two in the Middle Putumayo River Basin. In September 2013, we conclu- protected areas in the Colombian Pacific and adjacent mangrove areas in Nariño ded a very important work chapter shared between WWF Peru, WWF Department now have a firm foundation to begin to address climate risk. This year Ecuador, WWF Colombia, WWF Germany and partner organizations we finished the development of a set of methods to assess climate risks and determi- with the closure of a project financed by the European Union and WWF ne adaptation alternatives. These tools have been adjusted to the region’s conditions Germany. Thanks to great teamwork, the project contributed to the and validated by different actors. For that reason, local decision makers and civil strengthening of the presence of institutions and the technical and ope- servants can integrate real solutions to face climate change within the framework of rational capacities of the conservation units of Peru, Ecuador and Co- management plans for protected areas and other land use zoning tools. The impor- lombia. Peru declared three new protected areas totaling 600,000 hec- tance of these methodologies, launched in Gorgona and Sanquianga Natural Parks, tares; Ecuador adopted a new forest conservation initiative; and local transcends geographic boundaries so as to be replicable in other coastal marine en- Colombian communities reached important conservation agreements vironments in the country and abroad. for conservation, reduction of the agricultural frontier and improve- ment of land tenure conditions. This chapter has ended but the story

continues. The Tri-national Program, which will continue to be conso- © Felipe Garcia / WWF © Fernado Trujillo / WWF lidated, with new stage opportunities and challenges for the region. 4 5 WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country © Archivo / WWF © Fernado Trujillo / WWF

Citizen action roundtables Ecosystem Vision for the Conservation of the Amazon Biome

For more than 10 years, WWF Colombia has strengthened the capabilities of many The European Union, the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Ger- actors to develop a methodological tool enshrined in the constitution, known as man Government and WWF have invested close to USD 10 million in resources to citizen action roundtable. This tool secures a structured dialogue based on citi- support the implementation of the Ecosystem Vision for the Conservation of the zens’ rights and duties and institutional competencies in order to generate binding Amazon Biome Action Plan. This initiative has been recognized by the Ministries agreements in a negotiation framework. In 2013, we carried out two roundtables. of Environment and the subsequent decisions were adopted in the 10th Conference In Puerto Leguízamo, a municipality in the Putumayo region of Colombia, we es- of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) led by Colombia’s National Parks tablished an interethnic roundtable on land and production, which is part of 32 System as the coordinator of the Latin American Technical Cooperation Network agreements signed by 25 institutions to assess issues related to territorial arrange- on National Parks with the support of WWF, IUCN, the CBD Secretariat and the ment, production systems in the Amazon, fishing practices and solid waste dispo- participation of the ATCO and the Andean Community of Nations. This Protected sal, among others. In the Coello River basin, in Tolima Department of the Central Areas Initiative forms part of WWF’s Amazon Initiative and is key to secure a sha- Andes, we reached 28 agreements for the strengthening of protected areas, the red vision of the protected areas systems to properly face climate change. reconversion of production systems and the investment in water sanitation systems, which altogether aim to guarantee the supply of environmental goods and services. Each one of these processes has a monitoring plan led by the communi-

ties, strengthening the governance of the territory and its resources. © Fernado Trujillo / WWF © Archivo / WWF

6 7 WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country © Adam Dixon / WWF US © Kevin Schafer / WWF-Canon

Discovery of a new species to science: a small frog BIBO, A commitment by WWF and El Espectador

In late November 2014, during a biological characterization led by WWF Colom- to preserve forests in Colombia bia and WWF Germany in the Casanare savannah of the Orinoco River Basin, the team of biologists associated with the SULU project (funded by WWF Germany BIBO stared 2013 with a bang when the International News Media Associa- and BMU IKI) discovered a small frog unknown to science. The discovery took ton (INMA) recognized Bibo as one of the three best print media campaig- place on the border of savanna ecosystems and forest zones, where these amphi- ns in the world. It was also awarded the first place in the three categories bians seek shelter during the dry season. Apparently, the species is associated with in which it was nominated. Continuing its goal of raising awareness among the termite mounds found in the Orinoco savannah, which probably offer the ne- Colombians of the importance of the good and services provided by forests, cessary microclimate conditions to avoid the intense solar radiation of the dry sea- this year BIBO focused its efforts on the relation among forests, water and son. The three specimens of this small frog, belonging to the Microhylidae family, energy, given that in Colombia almost 80% of electric energy is generated by represent a unique opportunity to clarify the evolutionary relations among these hydroelectric plants. All 31 special editorials published on El Espectador, as group. In addition, the frog’s presence in Casanare highlights the conservation va- well as the advertising work on print, TV, radio and digital media, managed lues of the savannah and the gallery forests and provides elements for decisions on to position the campaign and increased awareness of the value of forests as a ecologic zoning for a more effective land use zoning associated with agroindustrial source of energy and the sustainable use of water in 90% of those surveyed, expansion. according to an opinion poll conducted in Colombia’s major cities. The Con-

© Hannab Williams / WWF ference on Water and the BIBO Awards, two key elements of the campaign, where dialogues were generated with different sectors and recognition given for the integrated management of water and good corporate practices. © El Espectador 8 9 WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country © Mauri Raukari / WWF © Rio verde en los andes Kevin Schafer / WWF-Canon Building alliances to reduce the business sector footprint in Colombia More biodiversity in palm plantations

Closing 2013, we established and strengthened partnerships with two major com- This was a year of achievements in the administrative work that WWF has been panies whose business depends on good water stewardship: Bavaria, a subsidiary doing with the palm sector. The technical and operational platform was establi- of SAB Miller and ISAGEN in Colombia, one of the largest energy companies in shed to implement the Palm GEF project, approved in 2012. In 2013 we created the country. We started working on the design of strategies for water stewardship, the Project’s Directive Committee along with its coordinating team. We also defi- which, in addition to being business management tools allow a more collective ned the methodological proposals for the identification of high-value conservation management of water resources. This will undoubtedly translate into the long- areas. This initiative, led by Fedepalma, Cenipalma, the Alexander von Humboldt term identification of vulnerable places through basin conservation actions with Institute and WWF, aims to incorporate biodiversity and conservation criteria in the help of local actors and the creation of policies that strengthen water stewards- palm projects within a landscape perspective. It represents the first step for palm hip. This is an example of how to promote a more responsible corporate culture producers to integrate production and conservation into territorial development in Colombia. and to consider their productive lands as part of a biodiverse and complex ecosys-

Andrea Camacho / WWF tem instead of an isolated area.

10 11 © El Espectador / WWF WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country © Alcaldia de Medellin / WWF © Edward Parker / WWF-Canon

Two Colombian cities in the global race for the City Challenge prize Panama’s Embera-Wounnan communities achieve the country’s first natu-

Medellin and Monteria are the two finalist cities in the Earth Hour City Challen- ral forest certification ge in Colombia, where they will compete with 32 other finalists out of the origi- After decades of forest damage due to unsustainable practices, forest management nal 163 participating. This is an initiative by WWF that provides an opportunity was handed over by local industries to indigenous communities. For the first time for cities and towns in the world to set an example and inspire sustainable urban in Panama’s history 43,000 hectares of native forest -where the Forest Manage- development. Likewise, it has become a platform to make visible the plans and ment Units- were certified. This could be achieved thanks to the joint efforts of efforts that each city undertakes regarding sustainable energy and environmental WWF, the Panamanian Government and the Embera-Wounnan authorities. Now, development. Medellin entered the final stage of the competition due to its mass

the use of 80,000 of the Darien forests is sustainable and more than 2000 people transit system, a national model of sustainable mobility and leadership in low-car- and 408 families participate and benefit from this work. By the end of 2013, we bon actions and waste management. On the other hand, Monteria was selected positioned two new projects with the FAO and the ITTO to further strengthen fo- because of its innovative efforts in developing community participation in waste rest governance and expand areas under more sustainable management. management, transportation and reforestation. © Miguel Pacheco / WWF © Alcaldia de Medellin / WWF

12 13 WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country 20

INSTITUCIONES PARTICIPANTES PROGRAMA DE MANEJO PESQUERO EN EL LAGO Corvina (Plagioscion squamosissimus), Gamitana (Colossoma macropomum), CABALLO COCHA Maparate (Hypopthalmus edentatus), Paiche (Arapaima gigas), Provincia Mariscal Ramón Castilla COCHA - Provincia CABALLO PROGRAMA DE MANEJO PESQUERO EN EL LAGO Provincia Mariscal Ramón Castilla Tucunaré (Cichla monoculus) y Boquichico (Prochilodus nigricans) Autores: Jenny Lorena Ortiz, PUBLICATIONSFernando Trujillo y Carlos Perea Sicchar CLICK HERE TO VEW THEM © Jürgen Freund / WWF-Canon A new sanctuary for Atlantic Leatherback and Hawksbill Turtles, contributing to CBD commitments towards an increased protection of marine ecosystems and WWF Species Action plan

On December 18, 2013 Colombia established its 58 national park in the northwest corner of the Caribbean coast, through the declaration of the Acandi, Playón and Playona Fauna and Flora Sanctuary located in the Chocó-Darién priority site. For local communities, the National Parks system and WWF Colombia this was the culmination of nearly a decade of negotiations for the construction of a shared commitment and management scheme agreed between National Parks and Afro-descendant communities. The designation of these 26,232 hectares is a mi- lestone in regional conservation because, as it was stated by a leader of the local community councils, strong communities and conservation are the basis for local development. For the sea turtles that return annually to nest on the beaches of the

© PNN Colombia / WWF-Canon municipality of Acandí, this ensures the protection of an important stage of their life cycle. 14 15 WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country WWF Colombia 20 years working for the country 160 MEDIA APPEARANCES CLICK HERE TO VEW THEM