In the watersheds of the sacred lagoons of Tota and Fúquene in Colombia, local communities are experiencing firsthand the effects of climate change. Variability in precipitation patterns, prolonged droughts, and intense rains have put their food sovereignty at risk. Families who traditionally cultivated land near their homes have stopped doing so due to crop failures.
In response to this challenge, the Living Lakes Biodiversity and Climate Project (LLBCP), coordinated by the Global Nature Fund (GNF) and implemented by Fundación Humedales in collaboration with local farming communities and international partners, has launched two agroecological initiatives. These initiatives aim to strengthen resilience to climate change and promote sustainable agricultural practices through a participatory approach.
Mujeres de Tierra: Recovering Knowledge for the Future
The Mujeres de Tierra (Women of the Land) initiative seeks to revive ancestral knowledge and develop new practices for organic food production for self-consumption. The main participants are women heads of household, who lead agroecological gardens and gardens of life—spaces where, in addition to growing various species, including ancestral and heirloom varieties, intergenerational coexistence and knowledge exchange are fostered.
Through workshops and community activities, more women in these watersheds have shown interest in replicating techniques such as the use of bio-preparations, crop rotation, allelopathy, ground cover to reduce evapotranspiration, and rainwater storage and reuse in their home gardens.
To date, Mujeres de Tierra has established 60 agroecological gardens, with 110 women managing them, benefiting approximately 80 families by increasing access to organic food and reducing dependence on externally purchased products.
To ensure the project’s sustainability, once the gardens are established and women have taken ownership of the spaces and practices, a sustainability phase begins. This phase focuses on small-scale sales of surplus production and the creation of exchange and commercialization networks.
Beyond strengthening food security and climate resilience, this initiative reclaims ancestral knowledge and provides women with the opportunity to engage in a productive activity with a positive impact on their community.
Biodiversity Performance Tool and Action Plans for Good Agroecological Practices in Onion Farming and Livestock
The Biodiversity Performance Tool (BPT) is a methodology designed to formulate, apply, and monitor measures for the restoration and conservation of natural habitats, promoting good agricultural practices. Fundación Humedales has adapted this tool for onion farming in Lake Tota and livestock systems in the Fúquene Lagoon.
As part of this process, four onion farmers and four livestock producers were selected to implement the tool. These eight farms represent Colombia’s characteristic diversity, including small and large producers, different ecosystems, and areas both on the lake shores and at higher altitudes with forest fragments.
The implementation process begins with a detailed diagnosis using a matrix designed within the BPT, from which a Biodiversity Action Plan (PAB) tailored to each farm is developed. This plan is based on a baseline assessment, participatory selection of management measures, and long-term monitoring of their implementation.
Training sessions have been held for producers to ensure the correct application of the action plans. The proposed measures aim to increase climate resilience, comply with international biodiversity and agricultural best practice regulations, and enhance biodiversity and ecological connectivity in the landscape.
These activities have involved extension workers from the Federación Nacional de Ganaderos (Fedegan) and the Corporación Colombiana de Investigación Agropecuaria (Agrosavia). As part of a commitment to the sustainability of the process, both entities have signed a Voluntary Agreement, guaranteeing the continuity of the tool with more producers in the future.
Through these initiatives, agroecology is consolidated as a key strategy for facing climate change in the Tota and Fúquene watersheds, promoting sustainable agricultural practices and strengthening the resilience of farming communities.
By integrating agroecological practices and community-led solutions, these initiatives are proving that adaptation to climate change is possible while strengthening food security and preserving biodiversity. But the work doesn’t stop here. Expanding these efforts requires greater collaboration, knowledge sharing, and support from policymakers, organizations, and individuals who believe in a more sustainable future.
🌱 Get involved! Whether you’re a farmer, researcher, policymaker, or advocate for climate action, your support can help scale these initiatives and drive real change. Share this story, explore ways to support agroecology, and join the movement for resilient, climate-smart communities.
