Andrés Suárez has turned his deep connection to Las Hermosas Canyon, in Colombia’s Tolima department, into a source of inspiration for himself and others, seeking to contribute to the conservation of its natural resources. Today, he restores forests and protects threatened tree species while teaching younger and current generations about the importance of caring for nature and the responsibility that comes with it.

Members of six fishing associations in Barrancabermeja and Puerto Parra, in Colombia’s Middle Magdalena region, are leading an effort to release Podocnemis lewyana, or Magdalena River turtles, that are accidentally caught during fishing activities. Throughout their fishing trips, every turtle caught in their nets is measured, tagged, and returned to the water. In the process, they are also gathering valuable information about the species. These fishermen have become sentinels for an emblematic species of the region, classified as Critically Endangered.