Dolphins Cupica REDD+, a project of social and environmental

This project is one of the most prominent in Colombia in relation to the conservation and offsetting the carbon footprint, which aims the protection of 103.022 hectares of forests tropical moist forest in the Chocó department.

Dolphins Cupica REDD+ is carried out in the collective territories of the Community Councils Northern Pacific Coast of Chocó, ‘Dolphins’ and Cupica and seeks to foster the environment but also to their communities.

Eladio Diaz, president of the Community Council Cupica what are some of the projects that have been developed in the territory.

“Thanks to the project Dolphins Cupica REDD+ we have managed to progress in our community, because we have worked on several projects. We started with the project of characterizing socio-economic, where they got to meet some needs of the community and also updated the census,” says Eladio Diaz.

After this first step, there are more projects that the community has developed, within the lines of action established, and which have helped to improve their quality of life.

“Achieved major conventions with the municipal administration for the improvement and maintenance of schools, and health centers.”, account Eladio.

And, to educational issues, used copiers to the college and it was established that with the resources of the project will be the payment of 100% of the tuition fee of the students in universities or higher education

“There are 30 students who are studying and who are supporting to train and then come to build and create new opportunities for the community.”  

Not only has it been invested in something as important as education and health, but the resources have also served to improve the infrastructure of the Community Council. For example, “you made the purchase of two vehicles; volquetas and backhoe loader “This will serve for the improvement of the streets, the trails, and for the construction of a place of final exposure of solid waste”. In addition, it became a building of 100 linear metres of the route to the port of embarkation and disembarkation”.

Also allocated a budget for the TV antenna cable, which is transmitted by television to the entire community of Cupica and improved street lighting, as the streetlights had the bulbs burned by lack of maintenance and not generated sufficient clarity.

“The streets were in complete darkness. We have managed to meet this need, our streets are with a lot of lighting, had damaged a transformer and we have also been able to buy. This is something positive for our community and for our people.”

For critical times of pandemic is provided, on two occasions, bonds eating all the inhabitants to achieve mitigate the impact of Covid-19.

“The first bonus was when you first started the pandemic, which was very difficult for the communities. After the theme of the pandemic and in addition to this, the lock that was keeping the food could be brought to the different communities from buenaventura by boat. There was a shortage, and there arose the need to generate another bonus food to communities could meet their needs”.

In addition, there is a cash subsidy for older adults and for persons with a disability of some kind. “Because there are people in our community who are unable to work and unable to participate in activities, but if you have been given a financial assistance”.

For the proper functioning of the Board, important that you have the necessary equipment to carry out its activities. It has managed to acquire equipment such as printer, computer, tv, video beam, drones, and items of identification. All this has enabled it to consolidate its work and, for example, help with a project that you have in the future on planting of vanilla.

“The idea is not only to focus on building but also to stop projects that you can create better conditions of life to the community and that in the future, the inhabitants may have a source of income and employment, which may be useful for your personal growth”.

And, according to the results of the project characterization, we hired a team social, “we have two social workers and a psychologist who are doing work of strengthening of the family and other needs that arose”. 

Dolphin Cupica REDD+ was carried out a reforestation project in Bahia Cupica, where he managed the planting of 17,000 plants and where he was part of the community, the Community Council Cupica. It has also made maintenance in aqueduct, cleaning of water sources and mangroves. 

“At this time, we are organizing a project for a second phase of reforestation that is going to do with the community. In addition, this generates a positive impact on the environment and help the inhabitants to meet their needs, but at the same time let's grow as a family, as a community and how to territory.”

REDD+ projects also seek to promote entrepreneurship in green business that benefit the community and be able to protect the flora and fauna of the territories.

In this case, given the need food community implemented a food security project in home gardens.

“It turns out that we have so much land and so many riches, but sometimes we don't use it well, then we were in desperate need for food such as banana and banana that are strong in our territory. Then, as every one who has land, we decided to allocate resources for re-planting”.

Also provided wire to the community, to control the cattle, and not out to hurt the sowing and have been given different economic supports to strengthen some business and to support calamities family.

“Sometimes through small loans, we handle internally, they had to borrow money to some people to strengthen their entrepreneurship. In addition, when someone is sick, you will help with the transportation was done by the municipality, and if someone dies you are working to the theme of the visitation, ninth and to the purchase of the coffin”.

Finally, it is important to highlight the project of trustees ranger, where they are involved 30 people, who are dedicating themselves to the planting, reforestation and some tasks that have to do with going towards the forest, collect seeds, and take them to a nursery and then insert it in the most affected places.

“With these same custodians ranger we are also not giving the task of making trails that will change the face to our community with fruit trees”.

Eladio says that the community Council is grateful for the project Dolphins Cupica REDD+:

“In general the inhabitants of Cupica are very grateful for this project and with Biofix for the participation that has given us and we hope to continue moving forward in the construction of many more opportunities for Cupica and to its inhabitants.”

This project has received various awards he has done that is recognized at the national level and recently the company ZENITH group ECOPETROL purchased carbon credits from this project that made ICONTEC will deliver carbon neutrality certification.

We hope that more companies will be encouraged to support this type of project, since BIOFIX runs 9 REDD+ projects in partnership with communities of african and indigenous peoples in colombian territory, and, like that of Dolphins Cupica REDD+, the other projects have also contributed significantly to improving the quality of life of its inhabitants and protect the forests.