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URUGUAY. Strengthening biodiversity and land conservation policies as pillars of sustainable development.

In Uruguay, against a backdrop of the loss of habitat critical to biodiversity, the degradation of vulnerable ecosystems and soils due to the intensification and expansion of livestock and agricultural activities, poor grassland management practices, and pollution of water bodies and wetlands, the project aimed to implement actions to strengthen systemic, financial, and institutional capacities for biodiversity conservation and sustainable land management, thereby improving the effectiveness and sustainability of the management of protected areas, associated productive lands, and human well-being. This was achieved through: the establishment of a regulatory, financial, and institutional framework for biodiversity conservation and land degradation neutrality; Implementation of biodiversity and land conservation measures at pilot sites; and Knowledge management, monitoring and evaluation, and learning, to promote dialogue between public and private stakeholders.

URUGUAY. Financial Incentives for Sustainable Production

The Uruguayan Ministry of the Environment, with support from UNDP and the GEF through the project “Biodiversity and Land Conservation,” issued a call for proposals on sustainable production to organizations of producers of goods and services. An open competition was held for non-reimbursable grants aimed at groups of producers with proposals that incorporate improvements in environmental sustainability based on the sustainable use of natural resources. The call for proposals included an affirmative action strategy, reserving 30% of the awarded grants for women-led groups, as well as giving preference to groups that include young people. A total of 7 groups were selected, divided into 3 priority areas: i) sustainable livestock production on pastures; ii) nature tourism on livestock ranches; and iii) sustainable agriculture and biodiversity conservation.

ecOcamp

The ecOcamp, developed by ecOceanica since 2021, is an immersive training program in marine research and conservation, implemented in collaboration with fishing communities in northern Peru. Through a field-based theoretical and practical experience, participants engage directly in marine megafauna monitoring, including aquatic censuses, sea turtle nesting surveys, whale shark registration and photo-identification, and fisheries assessments.

The program combines applied scientific training, participation in real research processes, and collaboration with artisanal fishers, fostering understanding of both ecological and social dimensions of marine conservation. It also integrates a citizen science approach, enabling participants to contribute to long-term scientific data collection.

Beyond capacity building, the model supports the financial sustainability of research activities and generates direct economic benefits for local communities, strengthening the link between science, community, and marine biodiversity conservation.

Guardians of Agrobiodiversity: Reviving Indigenous Food Systems in the Ecuadorian Highlands

The Union of Peasant and Indigenous Organizations of Cotacachi (UNORCAC) in Cotacachi, Ecuador, is restoring traditional agrobiodiversity and food systems through seed fairs, community seed banks, agroecological farming, and traditional knowledge transfer. Operating across four agroecological zones, over 45 grassroots groups—including women’s associations—are conserving native crops, strengthening food sovereignty, and revitalizing biocultural heritage. Challenges addressed include genetic erosion, land degradation, and malnutrition. Key results include the revitalization of chakra systems—traditional Indigenous farming plots integrating crops, animals, and medicinal plants—and value-added enterprises like Sumak Mikuy, which produces dried native fruits, and Sara Mama, which makes the ancestral maize-based drink Chicha de Jora. Women farmers lead intergenerational learning and community-based solutions for sustainable livelihoods.

National Natural Park Serranía de Chiribiquete (Colombia): World Heritage, Conservation, and Social Resilience

The Serranía de Chiribiquete National Natural Park is Colombia’s largest terrestrial protected area, covering more than 4 million hectares, and for that reason presents multiple challenges for its management and protection. Its inscription on the World Heritage List as a mixed site in 2018 raised important questions about the area’s sustainability and the best approach to its management. Among the main challenges for managing this World Heritage Site (WHS) are climate change, tourism, and deforestation associated with unauthorized land uses, the latter occurring in areas surrounding the site. However, the greatest challenge likely relates to the presence of uncontacted indigenous communities within the WHM, which is why access to the area is strictly restricted for conservation purposes. Consequently, various strategies have been proposed, including a working strategy focused on the area of influence to address the threats facing the site.

CONTRIBUTION TO THE CONSERVATION OF SEA TURTLES

The sea turtle nesting monitoring program in Galápagos National Park began in the early 2000s and has established itself as a long-term practice. It is based on three main pillars: active volunteering, which allows for night patrols and camps throughout the season; stable funding, which guarantees logistics, food, and adequate conditions for participants; and standardized protocols, which facilitate the integration of national and international volunteers and ensure data quality. These conditions have allowed the work to continue for more than two decades and generate valuable information for the region. The exchange of data with other countries amplifies the impact of the practice beyond the Galapagos, positioning it as a sustainable, replicable model with regional relevance. 

Building Peace with Nature in the Colombian Amazon

The Colombian Amazon is a biome of extraordinary biocultural richness that provides vital ecosystem services and faces complex socio-environmental pressures. There, traditional practices of Indigenous Peoples coexist with the productive systems of peasant, Afro-Colombian, and peace-signatory communities, as well as extractive activities and armed conflict.

There are also socio-environmental conflicts driven by socioeconomic inequalities among its inhabitants, which contribute to deforestation and affect ecological connectivity. In contrast, there is a tradition of community-led processes that sustainably manage the territory.

This solution presents the results of the Sustainable Amazon for Peace project, which strengthened environmental governance for #PeaceWithNature through conservation practices and the sustainable use of biodiversity in the northwestern Amazon (areas with the highest deforestation rates); supported by public policies formulated by institutions contributing to the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Agreement and climate action.

Building Peace with Nature in the Colombian Amazon

The Colombian Amazon is a biome of extremely high biocultural richness that provides vital ecosystem services while also facing complex socio-environmental pressures. There, traditional uses of Indigenous Peoples, productive systems of peasant, Afro and peace signatory communities, extractive activities and armed conflict coexist.

There are also socio-environmental conflicts driven by the socioeconomic inequalities of its inhabitants, which increase deforestation and affect ecological connectivity. In contrast, there is a tradition of community processes that sustainably manage the territory.

This solution presents the results of the Sustainable Amazon for Peace project, which strengthened environmental governance for #PazConLaNaturaleza, through conservation practices and sustainable use of biodiversity in the northwestern Amazon (where there are high deforestation rates); with the support of public policies formulated by the institutions contributing to the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and climate action.

Reducing human-jaguar conflicts through an integrated coexistence strategy in Iguaçu

The Iguaçu region, located at the tri-border area between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay, is home to one of the last viable populations of jaguars in the Atlantic Forest. Interaction with human activities, particularly agriculture and livestock farming, has led to conflicts, economic losses, and negative perceptions of the species, thereby increasing hunting pressure on it. To address this challenge, Iguaçu National Park, through the Onças do Iguaçu Project, has implemented an integrated strategy for the coexistence of big cats with local communities in the region. The approach combines responses to predation incidents, preventive measures, training, community engagement, and institutional coordination. A structured protocol guides these actions, including assessment, mitigation, and continuous monitoring. On a regional scale, the Tri-national Coexistence Network strengthens cooperation between Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay. The solution helps reduce conflicts, increase tolerance, and promote the conservation of the jaguar in the landscape.

The Huemul Trail: An example of conservation, social connection, and resilience in Cerro Castillo National Park

“La Senda del Huemul” is a conservation and environmental education initiative implemented in Cerro Castillo National Park (Aysén Region, Chile) with the aim of raising awareness of the critical situation of the huemul (Hippocamelus bisulcus), an endemic and endangered deer species, and to strengthen the link between local communities and the protected area. This project is the result of joint work between local park rangers, local organizations, the Advisory Council, and other relevant actors involved in the management of the National Park.

The trail was designed as a two-day trekking route that covers a significant section of the park, incorporating interpretive components and experiential activities so that participants can understand the threats facing the huemul, its biology, its habitat, and the importance of its conservation in relation to the Patagonian forests, meadows, and hills that sustain it. 

Through a recreational activity, it is possible to directly help protect the huemul.

FORMULATION OF THE FIRST MASTER PLAN FOR THE DORSAL DE NASCA NATIONAL RESERVE WITH FISHER ASSOCIATIONS' SUPPORT

The RNDN, created in 2021, is the largest Natural Protected Area in Peru (6,239,205.75 ha) and the only one focused exclusively on marine ecosystems. Located 105 km off the coast of Ica, it is a vital source of resources like giant squid, sharks, and flying fish eggs for fishers from Paita, Pisco, Marcona, and Matarani. Its creation was an unprecedented multisectoral process that involved various stakeholders and governmental institutions. In 2022, the San Andres Artisanal Fishers Syndicate led the RNDN management committee, and in 2023 the Master Plan’s terms of reference were approved. The first Master Plan was developed collaboratively with fishing organizations and stakeholders, setting strategies for the conservation and sustainable use of natural and cultural resources. This plan integrates commitments to protect marine species, including the “Blue Five” (in this case whales, sharks, turtles and dolphins), and recognizes the identity and knowledge of artisanal fishers as part of the sociocultural value of the NPA.

Villavicencio Nature Reserve: a story of commitment and conservation on private land (Mendoza, Argentina)

In 1999, Danone acquired the Villavicencio mineral water brand and ownership of 64,000 hectares of land where the product originates. In line with the company’s objectives, it was voluntarily decided to dedicate this territory to private conservation.

Thus, in 2000, the Villavicencio Nature Reserve was created, the only privately managed reserve in the province.

As a food company, it was limited in its ability to carry out specific conservation actions. It was decided to conduct a pilot test with an external operator to see if it was feasible to generate tourism services. The test was positive. A business plan was developed and presented internally to the company, approved, and the Villavicencio Foundation was created in 2014 to professionalize and specialize the management of the area.

This allowed for progress on various projects and improved sustainability, with the challenge of sustaining the management and conservation costs of the protected natural area.