REDD+ projects and the identity of the territories

Especies en peligro de extinción, historia cultural y nombres de consejos comunitarios son algunas de las inspiraciones para determinar el nombre de los proyectos REDD+ (Reducción de las Emisiones Generadas Por la Deforestación y Degradación Forestal) en las comunidades que custodian los territorios. 

BIOFIX trabaja en asocio con más de 24 comunidades étnicas en Colombia, entre afrodescendientes e indígenas, las cuáles participan activamente en la definición de líneas de acción de los proyectos, así como en asignar un nombre que proyecte su identidad.

Todos los nombres de los proyectos son definidos por las comunidades étnicas y su mayoría están creados desde las lenguas nativas, las cuales son portadoras de una rica herencia cultural, transmiten conocimientos ancestrales, tradiciones y valores; fundamentales para la identidad de las comunidades indígenas.

It is the second largest project that leads BIOFIX, by taking place in the collective territories of the Community Councils, Northern Pacific Coast, and Cupica, which aims the protection of 103.022 hectares of forests tropical moist forest in the far north of the Department of Chocó.

His name was defined in tribute to the families that make up the community councils of Cupica and Northern Pacific Coast of Chocó, Dolphins, located in Bahía Solano and Juradó, Chocó, respectively.

Yuber Antonio González-Rivera, president and legal representative of the Community Council North Pacific Coast of Chocó, The Dolphins, aware that this name was given in honour of the association of the two councils over the area: Dolphins and Cupica. 

“The name Dolphin makes reference to the dolphins of the colombian Chocó, and seeks to make a recognition to work in herd who carry out these mammals,” said Gonzalez, referring to the joint work of families in these towns.

“We decided to give this name to this project because it is the unification of two community councils; the Community Council of Juradó, and the Community Council More of Novita Cocoman. These tips are joined to have a longer range in your work, and decided to give this name COCOMAN BORDER, because the community council of Juradó is located on the border with Panama, that's why I wanted to call it that,” says Tulio Antonio Hurtado president and representative of the Community Council More of Novita Cocoman.

For Tulio Antonio this project is very important because it enables them to improve their quality of life and live in the middle of nature. “Oh, how good it is to live with a healthy environment under the shelter of the nature! And provide opportunity of life to other people with this amount of forest that we are conserving”. 

COCOMAN BORDER REDD+ seeks to protect is 133.637 of forests in the Chocó, together with the Boards of directors of Community Councils More of Juradó “THE MARLIN”, and Consejo Comunitario mayor of Novita – COCOMAN.

What is the history behind this name? Ramón León León, cabildo governor of the reserve River Siare-Barranco Cute and a member of the project KALIAWIRI REDD+, note that KALIAWIRI means tree of life, according to the history of this tree came out all fruits or food.

This project is carried out in the departments of Guainía and Vichada and seeks to ensure the conservation of the 450,000 hectares of forests tropical forest that they have in their communities.

“In the indigenous worldview Sikuani Piapoco, Palameku is a creator god of the tools to be able to work the tree of life. He was the one who made the axe, which is the symbol of all the tools. And Kuwei means: god the creator of the earth, the water and the entire worldview of the Sikuani Piapoco,” says Monica Vallejo Gaitán, indigenous shelter River Muco and Guarojo of the community's Freedom. 

PALAMEKU KUWEI REDD+ is located in the municipality of Cumaribo, in the department of Vichada and their goal is to ensure that 32.667 hectares of territories that include forests, savanna and morichales is preserved.

Saul Castro González, of the community of Cerro Cocuy Shelter Morichal Old and a member of the project YAAWI IIPANA REDD+, explains that this name means: house of The jaguar.  

“We wanted to give the name to the project, because in our shelter the tiger is in danger of extinction, and we want to protect it, the same way that the tiger protects its territory”. 

YAAWI IIPANA REDD+ protects 253.406 hectares of dense forests of the Amazon region and seeks to minimize the impact caused by deforestation and forest degradation.

Servelio Renteria, a member of the project HARLEQUIN REDD+ and the legal representative of the council Cried, note that the project name is in honor of the Harlequin frog:

“It is a species that is in danger of extinction by the felling of forests. That's why protecting the forests is the best way to prevent the disappearance of the Harlequin frog”.

ARLEQUIN REDD+ is located in the municipalities of the Canton of St. Paul, Wept and Cértegui, located in the Area Biogeographic Chocó. This project protects 75,000 hectares of tropical rainforest and seeks to minimize the impact their communities generated by deforestation or forest degradation.

“The word BANAKALE, in the indian tradition in the village Sikuani, it means the variety of seeds that today we find in the conucos and orchards, and based traditional food Sikuani. It is the base of the food security for indigenous people and for the survival of the groups ethical Sikuani,” says Olegario bonilla Ordoñez, who belongs to the project BANAKALE REDD+, the receipt Saint Thérèse of the Tuparro.

This project aims to protect 61.678 hectares of the forests of the indigenous reserves Saint Thérèse of the Tuparro and Plain. Furthermore, it seeks to ensure environmental sustainability and mitigate the threats that pose the main agents and engines of deforestation.

Felipe Sanclemente, the legal representative of the community council, the Basins of the río Naya says: “the project NAYA REDD+ means to the community, the responsible management of the natural resources and the claim to the name of the river”. 

This project is carried out in the watershed of the River Naya, which is located in the vicinity of the Department of Cauca and the Valley. In this territory, and with this project seeks to protect 62.715 hectares of tropical moist forest. 

from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) seek to contribute to the reduction of Greenhouse Gases, but also seek to combat poverty and inequality in the regions where they are located, all this at the hands of the communities.