Safeguards for Peace and Nature in Colombia
Can conservation work in conflict zones? A project in Colombia shows how dialogue and safeguards strengthen peace and biodiversity.
Protected areas can safeguard biodiversity only if they also work for those who live in and around them. This principle lies at the heart of the Protected Areas and Peace project, which is funded by Germany’s International Climate Initiative (IKI).
Many of Colombia’s national parks are located in regions long affected by armed conflict. Unequal land distribution, unclear land tenure and the presence of illegal economies have intensified tensions between conservation objectives and local livelihoods. Thousands of smallholder farming families — known as campesinos — live within or near protected areas, often without formal land titles. In such contexts, strict conservation measures alone risk deepening mistrust and may even fuel new conflicts.
Participation Instead of Restrictions
The IKI-project therefore follows a different approach. Environmental and social safeguards are embedded in day-to-day project implementation. These include risk assessments, security monitoring and grievance mechanisms that allow communities to raise concerns safely.
When risks increase, activities are adapted, relocated or postponed. This flexible and precautionary approach protects both communities and project staff while ensuring that long-term conservation goals remain achievable.
A key achievement has been the development of participatory collective agreements with campesino families. Instead of imposing restrictions, the project facilitates dialogue on how land can be managed to conserve forests and biodiversity while sustaining livelihoods. Through productive ecological restoration, families are able to develop income opportunities compatible with conservation, including sustainable production systems and restoration-related activities. The experience demonstrates that conservation and economic security need not be in conflict.
Building Trust as the Foundation for Conservation
Early results indicate tangible change. Dialogue between campesino communities and park authorities has improved, strengthening communication and rebuilding trust. Local organisations have enhanced their understanding of rights, risks and conservation regulations, helping to prevent disputes before they escalate.
Safeguards also contribute directly to improved biodiversity outcomes. When communities are meaningfully involved and agreements are perceived as fair, acceptance of protected-area regulations increases. Sustainable land-use practices and restoration efforts reduce pressures that drive deforestation and ecosystem degradation. Conservation becomes more durable because it is supported by local people themselves.
Lessons for Fragile Contexts Worldwide
The Colombian experience offers important lessons for conservation efforts in fragile and conflict-affected regions. Safeguards are most effective when treated not as administrative requirements but as practical tools for managing complexity. Participation and rights-based approaches strengthen legitimacy, increase acceptance and improve long-term conservation outcomes.
Outlook: Beyond the Project’s Lifetime
As the project approaches its conclusion in June 2026, attention is shifting towards consolidating achievements and ensuring continuity. Support from the International Climate Initiative has helped establish lasting safeguards capacities within WWF Colombia, the project’s implementing organisation, and among local partners, including practical expertise in risk analysis, participatory processes and complaint mechanisms.
These strengthened capacities will enable partners to continue applying conflict-sensitive and rights-based conservation approaches beyond the project’s formal end. The experience from Colombia shows that investing in safeguards is not merely about managing risks — it is about building the skills, relationships and trust required for lasting biodiversity conservation and more peaceful landscapes in the years ahead.
The link has been copied to the clipboard
Contact
IKI Office
Zukunft – Umwelt – Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH
Stresemannstraße 69-71
10963 Berlin
