Development of an ecological corridor composed of Dry Tropical Forest and Cloud Forest, and support in the establishment of ecologically sustainable and profitable agricultural production with vulnerable communities with the purpose of protecting water resources at the basins of the Arroyohondo and Yumbo rivers - Valle del Cauca.

This project will be executed through the collaboration among several actors. The engagement process involved, among others, identifying regional initiatives and the actors involved in each before choosing the initiative led by ECOVIDA as the project which was more in line with the common interests of the two companies in terms of area of work, strategic lines and complementary corporate interests. Selecting this project made it possible to add the reforestation component to the clean production process with the support of the Swiss Embassy COSUDE.

1. Characterization of properties and participatory planning in terms of vulnerability to climate change for land restoration purposes "Property Plans for Adaptation to Climate Change"
2. Reforestation of a 20-hectare ecological corridor in four farms containing a wide array of species and producing at least 50% of the plant material used in local nurseries.
3. A profitable and ecologically sustainable business model through the clean production of greens and vegetables for 10 families, including 10 water-based crops, three community biofactories of organic fertilizers, six orchards adapted to climate change, workshops on biofertilizers and biohazards and construction of water reservoirs

The water resources and ecosystems of the Valle del Cauca region have deteriorated due to inadequate land use, and particularly as a result of deforestation due to extensive livestock farming, mining without adequate planning, inadequate use of agrochemicals, proliferation of forest crops and housing in areas with insufficient water resources and loss of pollinators and seed dispersers. This situation has worsened due to the negative impacts of climate change. Climate change affects the livelihoods of populations due to periods of drought, strong winds and excess moisture, which has forced populations to expand the agricultural frontier and to use forest services with greater recurrence. These activities result in a loss of vegetation cover essential for water “production” and holding capacity (desertification), loss of flora and fauna, landslides that produce sediments that pour into the Cauca River on the eastern slope of the Cordillera and up to the Dagua River on the western slope, which implies the dredging every four years of the Bay of Buenaventura (108 billion pesos approx.) to maintain an acceptable depth (12.5m).

Contributions

• The leading companies will contribute as follows: CELSIA 66,667 USD and INGREDION 16,667 USD for reforestation.
• The Embassy of Switzerland - Humanitarian Aid and Development will contribute 13,333 USD for clean production agriculture and with following up through INSITU SOCIAL
• The NGO ECOVIDA will contribute 1,290 USD to sustainable businesses.
• The Fire and Police Departments of Yumbo will contribute USD 667 in training about forest fire prevention and fighting strategies.
• The Environmental Authority, Corporación Autónoma Regional del Cauca - CVC will contribute 667 USD.
• The University Autonoma will contribute with carbon footprint capture estimations
• The Ecohabitat Foundation will follow-up on the business model and clean production processes at Yumbillo
• The community is contributing its time and manpower

Project Results

We expect the following results:

• 20 reforested hectares in an ecological corridor located in El Rincón and El Diamante rural settlements. Increase in infiltrated water, CO2 capture and levels of richness of the soil in reforested areas.
• 50 people, including 30 youth and 10 women, trained in reforestation and forest fire prevention, who will also participate in the planting process.
• 10 farmer families with increased income thanks to a cleaner production business of vegetables and greens. Strengthening of the ASOHERBAL Growers’ Association of the Yumbillo rural settlement

The results achieved to September 2018 are:

• Implementation of adaptation measures in properties: Systematization and dissemination of results among participants, training and participatory development of climate calendars and products.
• The identification and cost of measures to adapt actions to climate risks and water saving practices, and the acquisition of materials according to their needs.
• Training and implementation of the measures in the prioritized lands through the Field Schools, the preparation and management of biofertilizers and bio-fertilizers, and the construction of reservoirs.
• Implementation of ecological gardens adapted to the demand in each of the prioritized farms, reservoirs and biofactories.
• On-site review of the implementation of the applications implemented by each of the teams.