By German Bernal
Deforestation and the expansion of agricultural frontiers are major threats to ecosystems and their native flora and fauna—an issue that has historically affected the Andean forests, which are key strategic areas for their roles in water provision and climate regulation.
In response to this situation, some small-scale farmers in southern Tolima and northern Valle del Cauca have become “guardians” of these natural forest remnants, which are home to emblematic species such as the spectacled bear (Tremarctos ornatus), and iconic plants like the wax palm (Ceroxylon quindiuense), Andean walnut (Juglans neotropica), and a recently discovered cycad (Zamia tolimensis).
Photography: Lia de la Ossa
Farmers from both regions recently came together for an in-person exchange where they shared experiences in sustainable rural production and discussed the urgent need to implement actions that support the conservation of natural resources.
One of the participants was Fanny Moná, who lives in El Cañón de las Hermosas, located along Colombia’s Central Andes. As she recalls the 24-hour round trip by road to and from the town of El Águila, on the eastern slope of the Western Andes, Fanny reflects on the similarities between these distant landscapes.
“If you stand in the yard of my farm, you can see the Cañón de las Hermosas below, and in the distance, a bluish mountain: that’s Cerro Calarma, past Chaparral. And in El Águila, from a farm we visited, there’s also a deep gorge below and blue-tinted mountains on the horizon that belong to the department of Risaralda,” she explains.
Photography: Lia de la Ossa
Fanny was joined by 13 other participants from the districts of Bilbao (Planadas, Tolima) and Las Hermosas (Chaparral, Tolima), as well as local farmers from northern Valle del Cauca. It was the first time the two groups had the chance to talk about their efforts to protect wildlife and ecosystems.
Luissander Quira, a native of Bilbao, agrees with Fanny, pointing out the striking similarities not just in scenery but in livelihoods. “The landscapes are almost identical. Even the coffee tastes similar—citrusy and chocolatey, both here and there,” he notes.
Sustainable Production for a Healthy Environment
Río Saldaña – Una Cuenca de Vida and Conservamos la Vida are two initiatives in which these local “ecosystem guardians” participate. The first focuses on the protection of freshwater resources in the upper Saldaña River watershed in southern Tolima. The second promotes sustainable land use practices to help conserve the habitat of species such as the spectacled bear. Both programs emphasize the need to balance rural productivity with forest and biodiversity conservation, as well as the protection of essential ecosystem services.
“In both programs, the methodology is similar and includes, among other components, the signing of voluntary conservation agreements and the implementation of strategies that benefit both landowners (through improved income and quality of life) and ecosystems (through greater protection),” explains Luisa Rincón, a large mammal specialist at WCS Colombia.
Photography: Lia de la Ossa
Luisa adds: “During the exchange in El Águila, they discussed technical issues such as mapping farms and setting up camera traps to monitor local wildlife. But the main goal was for them to ask each other: How do you manage this? How do you plant here?”
Anthropologist Lía de la Ossa, who works in the Río Saldaña – Una Cuenca de Vida program as a community engagement professional, coordinated the event, which involved 17 farmers and 4 technical experts from both programs. Lía highlights the gathering as a space that “reinforced the idea that improving rural production while protecting the environment is possible—an effort in which environmental awareness, community participation, and collaboration are fundamental pillars.”
Coffee with a Conservation Aroma
In 2022, Planadas ranked as Colombia’s second-largest coffee-producing municipality, with the district of Bilbao among the top contributors. While the Cañón de las Hermosas has yet to gain national recognition, it also boasts a long-standing coffee tradition. In El Águila, coffee has been grown for generations, and local farmers have become masters of their craft.
“They are already exporting their coffee, with a steady market and a brand called Café Oso Andino. We don’t have a dedicated buyer. So, there’s a lot we can learn from them,” says Luissander Quira.
Photography: Lia de la Ossa
The strong community organization of these northern Valle del Cauca farmers has led to certified harvests recognized by Colombia’s National Federation of Coffee Growers. Their environmentally friendly farming practices help conserve ecosystems vital to the region’s biodiversity. “Through the signing of voluntary conservation agreements, these smallholders commit to protecting significant forest areas. In return, they receive technical guidance and supplies to enhance their production systems and support ecological restoration efforts,” says Luisa Rincón.
For the 14 farmers from Tolima who visited the Andean highlands of northern Valle del Cauca, the experience felt surprisingly familiar. They recognized practices similar to those they have adopted to safeguard water sources in the upper Saldaña watershed. In El Águila, they also saw firsthand how farmer associations can improve profitability.
“It’s an excellent idea because all of coffee’s qualities are recognized, and you can sell it at a better price,” says Luissander Quira. “Here in the village of Siquila, we produce excellent coffee. If we formed an association, we could sell it under our own label. But we’d need support from an administrative professional and an agronomist to guide us.”
At the close of this knowledge exchange, the seed of curiosity had clearly been planted among participants. It strengthened their conviction that it is indeed possible to unite sustainable farming with environmental protection. The dialogue between these Andean farmers, without a doubt, was worth it.
Photography: Lia de la Ossa
Fanny Moná concludes: “Even though it was a long journey, we didn’t feel tired. We returned home with more knowledge and more hope. Our dream now is to create a coffee that, beyond its quality, helps protect our water and our Andean forests.”
*Río Saldaña – Una Cuenca de Vida is a public-private partnership between Colombia’s National Natural Parks agency, Cortolima, Fundación Grupo Argos, Concretos Argos, and WCS.*
*Conservamos la Vida is supported by Fundación Grupo Argos, Colombia’s National Natural Parks, CVC (the Regional Environmental Authority of Valle del Cauca), Smurfit Kappa, and WCS.