This project seeks the sustainable development of seven indigenous reservations of the Sikuani and Piapoco peoples in an Orinoco-Amazon transition zone in Colombia.
The carbon market has been an important platform for climate financing in Colombia, in such a way that more and more ethnic communities are joining the development process of conservation projects to make their social investment initiatives effective.
This is the case of KALIAWIRI REDD+, a project that is leveraged in the carbon market and that is developed under the REDD+ methodology (Reduction of Emissions due to Deforestation and Forest Degradation), through which the conservation of 358,000 hectares of tropical humid forest belonging to the indigenous reservations: Saracure, Concordia, Flores Sombrero, Guaco Alto y Bajo, Cali – Barranquilla, Caño Chocón and Siare.
This project, located in territories where the savannah becomes a jungle, between Vichada and Guainía, in addition to conserving the forests and contributing to the capture of CO2 from the atmosphere, has among its main objectives promoting the sustainable development of more than 1,100 indigenous families .
The Reservations belonging to the development of this project make use of their autonomy executing investment projects with the resources obtained from the commercialization of carbon credits. By 2022, these communities have made progress in the development of initiatives that benefit their communities, such as the following:
Water supply, connectivity and transportation for 167 people in the Cali Barranquilla Indigenous Reservation
In 2021 this community carried out the construction of a communications post so that people have access to the internet, computers and printers, an installation of solar panels for access to energy and also acquired outboard motors to strengthen transportation for the authorities. and leaders of the Borrojo, Cali and Barranquilla communities.
"We see ourselves greatly benefited from the aid that they are giving us such as the remittance, the flyer, the health brigade, the motorcycles and engines and other aid that is yet to come," Javier del Resguardo Cali Barranquilla, who is part of the Kaliawiri REDD+ project.
In addition, the construction of the water supply system for human consumption was carried out in one of the communities of the reservation and the delivery of student kits for children of the reservation was carried out, among other projects that have helped community development.
“We hope that this project continues and that more benefits continue to arrive for the development and quality of life of our communities. Our vision is to conserve and maintain the balance of the forest. For people who do not know about this project, this is good, because through it we are getting opportunities that can improve our quality of life”, Walter Gómez belonging to the Cali Barranquilla Reservation of the Kaliawiri REDD+ project.
Flores Sombrero strengthens its means of transportation and endowment to benefit 220 people
For us as the indigenous Guard, the project has been beneficial because we have received uniforms, boots and vests. In addition, they have invested in river transportation such as the flyer, the motor, and the markets,” says Kevin Rodríguez, a member of the Indigenous Guard of the Flores Sombrero Reservation.
It is worth noting the importance that forests have acquired for these communities, since now they are very aware that trees are vital for the continuity of life. “We know that the forest has value, we take care of it, we value it and we don't cut down trees”, concludes Kevin.
In Concordia, 34 families have electricity with the installation of solar panels
In addition to its investment in health with brigades and institutional and governance strengthening, the Concordia Indigenous Reservation has made progress in the installation of solar panels, a communication point, river transportation, and aqueduct, which significantly covers the general needs of families.
They also run a community nursery, in which 5 people have been trained so that the indigenous reservation has an environmental school where children and adults learn about plants, their growth and their different uses.
“The KALIAWIRI REDD+ project is important because it brings us benefits. Thanks to the conservation of our forests we have received benefits such as the aqueduct, the communication point, flying machine and motors, endowment of the indigenous guard, markets and solar panels, which thanks to them we have light in our houses”, affirms Carlos Gaitán Rodríguez, Governing council of the Concordia indigenous reservation.
Guaco Alto and Guaco Bajo invest in health and nutrition for 1,170 people, as well as improve their relationship with the forest
On the other hand, the Guaco Alto and Guaco Bajo Indigenous Reservation has invested in supplies for children, health brigades and kitchen utensils. Luis Rodríguez Cumanaica, Governing Council of this reservation, talks about those received by the community: "The Kaliawiri project is important for me reservation, because it has brought us many benefits such as markets, provision for children and the indigenous guard, health brigade, cooking utensils, etc.
“That is why all the people are happy because the quality of the food has improved and many other things. Today you see better houses and homes. We are very grateful to everyone who has helped us to make this project come true”, concludes Luis.
This project has not only changed the quality of life of the communities but also the relationship they have with the forest: “We have seen the change in the relationship with the forest, because we have been conserving it more. We have conserved more of the nature that we have in our environment,” says Fabián Rodríguez, general secretary of the 4 communities that live in the Guaco Alto and Guaco Bajo Reservation.
Means of transportation in the Saracure Río Cadá Reservation benefit 3,400 people
Since the implementation of the project, the communities have been able to see the benefits of it. "The Kaliawiri REDD+ project has benefited all the communities with projects such as food or food delivery and the insignia of the indigenous guard such as pants and boots," says Patricio Cumanaica, rector in charge of the Katterine Uribe headquarters, belonging to the Saracure Reservation. Cadá River in Cumaribo, Vichada.
Before starting the project, the communities did uncontrolled logging, but, "thanks to the fact that the BIOFIX company that comes with the objective of conserving, the Sikuani-Piapoco indigenous people no longer burn or cut down forests as before," adds Patricio, who shows the interest of the communities in changing their habits to help preserve the environment, and likewise, leveraged in the carbon market, obtain economic resources to invest in their community.
In this way, the inhabitants of the reservation implemented a reforestation project where they planted 3,600 Marañón, Machacho, Moringa and Guamo trees on 10 hectares. For the execution of this project, the reservation trained 10 people in participatory reforestation.
Transport for 320 people and strengthening of governance in Caño Chocón
Because it is located close to the Guaviare River, its main connection and communication channel with other communities, the Caño Chocón Indigenous Reservation has made progress in the acquisition of motors for its boats, in response to the need to maintain its main means of transportation.
Likewise, the community has carried out health brigades, installation of a communications point and, in relation to the strengthening of its governance, they have managed the creation of a community room and endowment for the indigenous guard, which represents an authority important within the families of the territory.
In the same way, they carry out a community nursery project in which they have initially trained 5 people to carry out activities of food security and sustainable use of planted species.
Aqueduct and education have been priorities for 370 people in the Siare Barranco Lindo Indigenous Reservation
For Julio Díaz, a teacher at the Siare Indigenous Reserve, the Kaliawiri REDD+ project has been of great importance for all the inhabitants, because it has had various benefits. "We have received food and it helps us fight malnutrition and we also receive medicine."
In addition, this project has encouraged the rescue of the traditional culture of the community. “Children are somewhat unaware of our uses and customs of nature, such as traditional medicine, but thanks to the project and to BIOFIX we have been doing a rescue for them,” says Luis Ángel Bastidas, a teacher at the SIARE educational institution.
For the Governor of the Resguardo, Ramón León, the project, in addition to bringing benefits and development for the community, has encouraged the conservation of the region's resources.
"The projects that we have executed at this time since last year are, for example, the food kit, provision of indigenous guard and outboard motor, internet room, support for higher education and aqueduct," says Ramón, who adds that Each of these projects has had a great impact on the community, such as support for higher education, "it is important, because it helps us to have young professionals in our shelter and the aqueduct project for the well-being of our people, because for several years we have taken water from the river, but not anymore, we already have drinking water”.
It is undeniable that this project has benefited many people and that they themselves have hope in the forests of which they are custodians, because they have learned to take care of them, protect them and know the environmental value that they have in the country. For this reason they also implemented a community nursery where cocoa is being planted and with which they seek to have food security, an environmental school and good use of natural resources.
From BIOFIX we remain committed to working hand in hand with these 7 reservations to contribute to their social, environmental and economic development, through the commercialization of carbon credits, respecting their autonomy as indigenous people in decision-making and accompanying them in their development. of conservation projects such as KALIAWIRI REDD+.
Learn more about this project at: https://biofix.co/portafolio/kaliawiri-redd/