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OVERVIEW

The Colombia Forests and Wetlands Activity transfers forest and natural resources management expertise from the United States Forest Service (USFS) to local government and community actors.  The activity provides local actors with technical assistance related to wildfire management and the governance of public forests and protected areas. The activity also supports the SilvaCarbon and Sustainable Wetlands Adaptation and Mitigation Program (SWAMP) to monitor and report carbon, and it strengthens Colombia’s capacity to incorporate carbon data into land policy, management, and strategy development processes.  Through these efforts, the activity is advancing biodiversity conservation, improving natural resource governance, and reducing carbon emissions caused by deforestation and wetland degradation. This activity runs from June 2020-June 2023.


GOALS

IMPROVE NATURAL RESOURCES GOVERNANCE

Colombia Forests and Wetlands strengthens the forest management capacities, including community forestry, of local communities and the Colombian Government.  The activity also supports a youth conservation corps that provides natural resource training, internships, and professional development to rural, Colombian youth.

IMPROVE WILDFIRE MANAGEMENT

Colombia Forests and Wetlands trains Colombian Government officials in the skills and knowledge needed to prevent, suppress, and respond to forest fires.  Within this training, the activity prioritizes supporting women’s leadership and skill-building opportunities. The activity is also developing a wildfire assessment and will provide recommendations to improve Colombia’s wildfire management.

ENHANCE FOREST MONITORING CAPACITY

Colombia Forests and Wetlands builds Colombian academic and government actors’ capacities to perform forest and wetland mapping. This mapping is needed to develop a national forest inventory, map forest cover changes, and identify the best models and technologies for agriculture, forestry, and greenhouse gas capture projects.

RESULTS 

  • Developed an improved prototype of the Wildland Fire Forecast System for Colombia;
  • Conducted a national community forestry assessment with a focus on Antioquia and Amazonas;
  • Conducted three wildland fire management trainings for capacity building and institutional strengthening;
  • Completed a national wildland fire management assessment with the participation of regional and national organizations; 
  • Provided virtual training on the Green Value Tool (GVT), a tool for the simplified financial analysis of forestry initiatives;
  • Held the virtual interagency fire management workshop with speakers from Canada, Colombia, Mexico, Peru, and the United States;
  • Launched the Colombia Youth Conservation Corp Program (CYCC) in Caldas to train youth in natural resources conservation, leadership, and volunteerism; 
  • Helped the Colombian Government and academic institutions develop national maps of the country’s forests and peatlands, and their respective changes over time; 
  • Collaborated with the Colombian Government to develop standardized qualifications and curriculum for prioritized wildfire positions, and national standards for fire response; and
  • Engaged with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development to create of two user-friendly documents to guide the development of Forest Management Plans and Forest Use Plans.