For productive sectors that prioritize innovation

 

WCS Colombia supports the generation and implementation of practices that ensure the environmental sustainability of productive sector activities, using tools such as the mitigation hierarchy.

It also aims to secure the long-term financial sustainability of conservation initiatives through the development and implementation of economic, financial, and market mechanisms.

All of this is aimed at promoting biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in the country.

This could be one way to define this Line of Action, which, from another perspective, consolidates the promotion of innovative investments for conservationón.

Photo: Divar Quijano / WCS Colombia

As part of these objectives, we train key stakeholders, including local communities and public officials, on instruments for the financing of conservation and ecosystem restoration, such as payment for ecosystem services, carbon credits, and compensation mechanisms.

In addition to this training, we implement financing strategies for our own conservation projects and for the strategies of our public and private allies, such as protected area systems or agricultural producer associations.

This has included the development of pre-feasibility studies to advance carbon projects within the landscapes and initiatives of interest to WCS, biodiversity credits, and environmental funds.

We have also supported the implementation of environmental obligations, particularly those related to compensation for biodiversity loss and investment in the restoration of water sources. These obligations aim to mitigate the impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services caused by projects with environmental licensing.

This has been concretized through the creation of guidelines and recommendations for the introduction of regulatory adjustments and their implementation, based on qualitative and quantitative research. The regulatory adjustments lead to improved implementation and the achievement of the main goal: preventing biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.

Photo: Divar Quijano / WCS Colombia

At the same time, as a way to make these obligations feasible, technical and regulatory strategies have been created, including the evaluation of the implementation of environmental compensation policies and the design of mechanisms to facilitate their execution.
 

Traslated with AI support

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"We support public and private stakeholders in strengthening their knowledge and capacities related to the implementation of the mitigation hierarchy and environmental obligations, particularly biodiversity offsetting."

To achieve this, we develop a range of strategies and tools that facilitate the implementation of best practices on these topics:

Digital training modules: through videos, booklets, and interactive exercises, interested audiences can learn about various environmental obligations, their general characteristics, and some technical aspects of their implementation. The modules are available at:

 

BASIC MODULS

 

Biodiversity Offsetting

Offsetting is the final step in a series of actions aimed first at avoiding, minimizing, and restoring the negative impacts that projects may have on ecosystems. An offset must result in biodiversity gains that are equal to or greater than the losses incurred.

You can also explore the booklet Biodiversity Offsetting

 

Investments for the Use of Water from Natural Sources

The mandatory investment of no less than 1% is a regulatory instrument that requires all projects withdrawing water from natural sources to invest at least 1% of their total project cost in activities aimed at the preservation and conservation of water resources. This module outlines the general aspects of this instrument, its regulatory development, and some guidance for its implementation.

You can also explore the booklet Mandatory Investment of No Less Than 1%.

 

Protection of Strategic Areas for Water Resource Conservation

The recovery and care of environmentally strategic areas that are key to protecting water resources—including forests, aquifer recharge zones, páramos, wetlands, springs, water sources, and other ecosystems that safeguard biodiversity and the water we consume—are essential tasks. Every conserved portion of water-supplying territories, every patch of forest that is restored and protected, has a direct impact on the quality of water, human well-being, and aquatic ecosystems. In turn, this leads to lower water treatment costs and greater safety for human health. In this regard, Colombia’s Law 99 of 1993 declared as a matter of public interest those strategic areas vital for the conservation of water resources supplying municipal and district aqueducts, and established mandatory investments for the acquisition of these areas.

You can also explore the booklet Article 111 – Law 99 of 1993

 

Payment for Enviromental Services

The activities we carry out daily—and our very existence—depend on components and functions of the nature around us, from basic and obvious elements such as drinking water, the air we breathe, and the food we consume, to others that might initially go unnoticed but are equally essential; for example, biodiversity and the landscapes we enjoy every day. The availability and quality of these environmental services require the care, protection, or management of the areas capable of providing them and influencing their supply. With this goal, voluntary Payment for Environmental Services (PES) mechanisms have emerged as instruments designed to recognize and incentivize conservation, as well as the adoption of more environmentally friendly practices.

You can also explore the booklet Voluntary Payment for Environmental Services Mechanisms

Advanced Module - Measuring Biodiversity Lossed and Gains

One of the most significant technical challenges in implementing biodiversity offsetting activities is demonstrating no net loss. This advanced training module aims to provide information on measuring biodiversity losses and gains in general, and specifically in Colombia, as a tool to help demonstrate no net loss, plan better offsets, and thereby improve the effectiveness of offsets in the country.

Download the module here. Once downloaded, please view it in your preferred web browser.