Presentation by Angela Andrade, Klaus Schutze y Angélica Cardon on participatory ecological restoration in the Rio Blanco watershed, Colombia. This was presented during the SER Conference Mexico, August 2011

1. PARTICIPATORY ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION IN THE RIO
BLANCO WATERSHED: ECOSYSTEM BASED ADAPTATION
ACTIONS TO ADDRESS CLIMATE CHANGE IMPACTS IN THE
CHINGAZA MASSIF, HIGH MOUNTAIN ECOSYSTEMS OF
COLOMBIA
Angela Andrade, Klaus Schutze y Angélica Cardona

2. Context
High Mountain Ecosystems and Vulnerability to
Climate Change
 Located over 2740msnm.
 3.7% (4.210.000ha).
 70% of National population depend on ES.
 48% are protected areas.
 Glaciers tend to disappear in the coming 10 years.
 Current Andean forest cover: 23%
 “Paramos and High Andean Forestry's are highly
vulnerable to cc, affecting provision of ecosystem
services. (2nd NC. 2010).

3. Pilot Adaptation Project
in High Mountain Ecosystems
a) What is the current and projected climate variability at regional scale and
how can we best deal with the uncertainties of climate change trends?
b) What are the effects of climatic variability in high mountain ecosystems
(Glaciers, High Andean Forests and Páramos)?
c) How can we best maintain or increase the resilience of high mountain
ecosystems (Glaciers, High Andean Forests and Páramos) in a context of
climate change and climate vulnerability?
d) How can we best prepare social actors for managing resilience and
proactively adapt to global change and climate vulnerability in high mountain
ecosystems?
e) How can we best influence public policies that focus on implementing
environmental management processes?

4. STUDY AREA
RIO BLANCO WATERSHED
 Belongs to the Chingaza Massif (2nd largest
Paramo in Colombia, and the Chingaza
National Park.
 It is located 70 km from Bogota, covering an
area of 40.528 ha (30% of the Massif).
 Provides water to a population of 8 million.
It is used by the Water and Sewage
Company in Bogotá.
 Population: 15.000 inhabitants.
 1 National Park; 3 Regional Environmental
Authorities; 3 municipalities, 1Department.

5. Projected Climate trends in the area
4.500.000
4.000.000  Average rainfall decrease for the period
3.500.000
2071-2100 between 10 and 30%, for both
A2 and B2 scenarios.
3.000.000
2.500.000
2.000.000
Escenario A2
1.500.000 Escenario B2
 Temperature increase: 2-4° for the period
2071–2100 in both CC scenarios.
1.000.000
500.000
0
Más lluvioso a lo Similar a lo actual Seco en Muy seco en
actual comparación a lo comparación a lo
actual actual
+10 - +30 -10 - +10 -30 - -10 < -30
Rainfall 2071–2100
3.500.000
3.000.000
2.500.000
2.000.000
Escenario A2
1.500.000
Escenario B2
1.000.000
500.000
0
Ligeramente más calido Más calido que lo Muy calido que lo
que lo actual actual actual
0-2 2-4 >4
Temperature 2071–2100

6. How can we build resilience?
1. Vulnerability Assessment Models:
Territorial Sensibility Threats
Slope
Land Cover Change Climate Change
Climatic disruptions Landslides
Fragmentation Index Increase in the
Ecological Integrity agricultural frontier
Index. Mining
Infrastructure

7. Land Use Change map
1950- 2010
Tipo cambio Área (ha) %
Pérdida bosques 2.512 27
Pérdida espacios naturales
naturales 2.554 27
Ganancia bosques 2.696 28
Ganancia espacios naturales 900 10
Estable 799 8
Total cambios 9.461 100

8. Land Cover Threats
Increase of Agricultural Mass
Frontier Movements

9. Forest fires.
Mining

10. Infrastructure Climate Change

11. Integrated Vulnerability Assessment of Río Blanco Watershed

12. 2. Participative Analysis of Securities and ecosystem services:
water, food, territory.
REGULATING
PROVISIONING
SUPPORTING -Food -Water regulation.
-Medicines
-C02 fixation: -Fuel
70% soil and -Erosion control.
-Wood and Fiber
30% biomass. -Freshwater -Quantity and Quality of
-Soil formation Water.
CULTURAL
-Biodiversity -Natural Risks Reduction.
Aesthetic
-Nutrient Cycle -Water holding capacity.
Religious.
-Groundwater recharge.
Recreation and
tourism.
Cultural Heritage
3. Surveys with key stakeholders at farm level:
interviews and local visits.

13. 4. Participative Ecological Restoration, as an Adaptation Measure to
address climate change impacts.
Economic Aspects Social Aspects
Ecological Aspects Ecosystem Services Improve living Conditions
Ecosystem Structure
Community participation to
and Function Selection of sites for implement restoration
restoration, to guarantee actions.
Selection of priority provision of water and Restoration agreements .
species for propagation. water regulation.
Reduction of ecological
stressors.
Ecological and Social Resilience

14. a. Definition of the Ecological Adaptive Structure- EETA
A geographical network of spaces that support essential
ecological processes necessary to guide adaptation
beyond biodiversity conservation and towards the
maintenance of ecosystem structure and functioning and
main ecosystem services.
Main Objective: Maintenance, recovery and regulation
of water resources and connect people with their
territory.
a) Land use recommendations in the framework of
ecosystem functioning thresholds;
b) Key elements to promote natural connectivity,
including ecological restoration.
c) Information gaps that need to be addressed to
contribute to ecosystem resilience.
d) Promotion of social organization mechanisms.
e) Proposed compensatory mechanisms.

15. Ecological Adaptive Structure- EETA
Areas which have to be
Conservation protected, rich in
biodiversity and contribute
Riversides, Wetlands maintaining hydrological
regulation.
and Catchments
Riversides : 7-30m;
Catchment areas:10-100m.
Secondary forests;
Natural regeneration.
Transition and Land use changes:
Productive grazing to agroforestry
systems
Areas

16. b. Building an Ecological Restoration Plan.
 Catchment areas, wetlands and
riversides.
 Geodynamic process: landslides, severe
erosion.
 Land use conflicts/ land degradation.
 Forest fires.
 Degraded land of PNN Chingaza and
Forest Reserve of Río Blanco and Negro.
Potential area to be restored: 48%

17. c. Promoting Participative Ecological Restoration Actions
- Community participation
. Development of “Adaptive land use Plans”, at local level for the management of “global
commons”: local agreements for building ecological and social resilience, including activities
such as watershed management, land restoration, farm planning, ecological monitoring and
social networking;
 Identification and implementation of restoration actions which require collective work
“mingas”
.

18. - Selection of sites for the implementation of ecological restoration actions in
priority areas:
 Current land cover/land use and soil status.
 Water quantity/quality, and current use.
 Stakeholders and communities depending on water services.

19. - Community Agreements for Ecological Restoration.
 Agreements for the definition of restoration areas.
 Signature of Commitment Acts for the implementation
of Restoration Actions.
 Delivery of inputs for the implementation of actions.

20. - Propagation of plant species for restoration in priority areas.
 Identification of species: pioneer species; early growing
species; and others that help natural succession, including
those identified by local knowledge.
 Collection, propagation and maintenance of the species.
 Advice to communities in local villages.
 Construction of satellite greenhouses and an experimental
center to promote participatory research, capacity building
and training of local communities and research.

21. - Reduction of tensors and planting native species in selected areas.
 Implementation of isolation actions.
 Communitarian actions for planting.
 Building drinking places and establishment of pastures for livestock outside
isolated areas.
ALTURA
PROPIETARIO SITIO PREDIO COORDENADAS DESCRIPCIÓN EVALUACIÓN FINAL
(msnm)
Se realizó el aislamiento, se sembraron los
Lat. 04° 39’ 04.3” N Sin vegetación arbórea. Abastece de agua a varias
José Ever Cifuentes R La Esperanza 2.536 árboles y se instaló el bebedero. Se utilizaron
Lon. 073° 52’ 46.0” W familias de la vereda de La Jangada.
todos los insumos entregados.

22. Ejemplo de los sitios caracterizados en la vereda Chatasugá, para la implementación del proceso de
restauración ecológica.
Pedro Ángel Sitio de ronda hídrica, en la
Barreto quebrada La Carbonera,
desprovisto de vegetación
arbórea circundante.
Se acuerda con el propietario
un aislamiento de 100 metros
de perímetro para la
protección de este sitio.
Pedro Ángel Nacedero desprovisto de
Barreto vegetación arbórea
circundante, con suelo
expuesto; conecta con parche
de vegetación relictual.
Se acuerda con el propietario
un aislamiento de 43 metros
de perímetro para la
protección de este sitio.
Mercedes Nacedero desprovisto de
Pulido vegetación arbórea
circundante e invadido por
pastos y especies herbáceas.
Se acuerda con el propietario
un aislamiento de 20 metros
de perímetro para la
protección de este sitio.

23. Example of Restoration at Farm Level.
Alternatives to Grazing Systems:
Confined cattle
Multispecies fences
Sylvopastoral systems
Improved pastures
Forage Banks

24. Results
1. Restoration actions implemented in 9 local communities, restoration
agreements signed (6.440 planted trees, of 50 native species).
2. 204 ecological restoration process implemented.
3. Silvopastoral and agroforestry systems established in 121 farms.
4. 8 homegardens in different localities, to promote propagation of native
species and production of organic fertilizer.
5. 1 main center for propagation, producing high quality plants for distribution
among local communities.
6. Capacity building of local communities: restoration, agro forestry systems,
efficient use of water. (Benefiting 800 families).
7. 2 Land Use plans including restoration in order to reduce territorial
vulnerability.
8. 9 adaptive land use plans at local level for the management of “global
commons”.
9. Restoration actions included in education processes and cultural activities.
10. C/B analysis, indicating the avoided cost in water services, after 7 years of
implementing restoration in catchment areas. (2.000US/catchment site/yr).

25. Lessons Learned
Building resilience during Restoration
 An integrated vulnerability assessment is the first step to address the
impacts of climate change through restoration.
 Vulnerability increases with non sustainable management practices.
 Restoration of ecosystem services is an ecosystem based adaptation (EbA)
measure to climate change and build resilience.
 EbA through restoration is a learning by doing process.
 Restoration is a matter of social and economic development.
 The success of pilot adaptation projects using restoration, is a learning by
doing process and depends on the participation of local communities and
the recognition of traditional knowledge.
 Valuation of restoration has to be improved, including social, ecological and
cultural costs.
 Impact on public policies and planning is relevant (land use/farm).
 Institutions have to be strengthened and adapted in order to improve
resilience.

26. Gracias !
aandrade@conservation.org
elcaminante@etb.net.co
angelicacardonaca@gmail.com
Photo 1
4.2” x 10.31”
Position
x: 8.74”, y: .18”