The following are some of the ways to get in touch with each other:Years ago, violent conflict prevented tourists from enjoying the natural splendor of Mesetas. The town had been one of the main centres of the conflict. ravaged Colombia for decadesNearly half a million lives.
Since the historic peace treaty in 2016With efforts to maintain it now led by the leftist president, Gustavo PetroThe natural resources of Mesetas are a source of hope for the people.
When Mesetas (in the Meta Department) was plagued by conflict involving the military, police, leftwing paramilitary groups, rightwing criminal organisations, and criminal organisations, all competing for territory, resources, and control over drug trafficking in the entire country, a thriving tourism industry was an unimaginable idea. With the advent of peace came an increase in visitors. And as the region’s unique biodiversity, which brings together three different ecosystems – Andean, Amazon and Orinoco – attracted more foreigners, local people began to recognise the great potential and value of the nature on their doorstep.
“We didn’t appreciate the beauty around us and we didn’t think people would be interested in coming here until others showed us that we have stunning waterfalls and impressive viewpoints,” says William Rodríguez, a peasant farmer from Mesetas, who is now involved in reforestation projects and rural tourism.
Mesetas’ most popular attractions include the Güejar River canyon and the Telares and Charco Azul waterfalls. Residents and local groups have been working to promote the other attractions in Mesetas, including Guácharos Canyon The Danta waterfall is also worth a visit. The biodiversity of the area is amazing, with species like the Amazonian momot, ocelots, and giant anteaters.
As tourism increased, the positive effects were almost immediate: 2023 was – along with 2019 – the year with the lowest level of deforestation in Mesetas since the peace treaty was signed, according to Global Forest Watch reports.
Officials in the mountains Sierra de la Macarena national natural parkEcotourism and environmental restoration initiatives carried out by local groups supported by the UN development program (UNDP) are credited with the improvement in the deforestation rate.
You can also find out more about the following: Corredores de Paz (peace corridors) programme By focusing on conservation of the environment and tourism, we helped people become more sustainable in this region. The project involved 40 families who planted native trees including sebipira in the river basin.Caesalpinia pluviosaPink trumpet (Tabebuia roseaSpanish cedar (Cedrela odorata).
Omaira Achury who was involved in the project says: “Through UNDP, we got the materials to fence in the reforested areas to prevent cattle from getting in. The trees are now one year old. The goal is to restore and repair as much as possible.”
In another project, community members launched a bird map that included instructions for finding certain species as well as notes about whether they are vulnerable or endangered. The guide now includes more than 800 species of birds.
“Before, we didn’t give importance to birds and animals,” says Argenis Buendía, a member of the Catypsa co-operative, which brings together local people and signatories of the peace treaty in sustainable economy projects. “Now we are learning to care for nature.”
Jairo Roncancio is a 25-year-old tourist guide who loves birds. He believes “nature tourism has changed the mentality of people”. He remembers carrying rocks when he and his brother used a slingshot to hunt birds. He says, “I’m now in love with birds, rivers and nature in general.”
The community views environmental protection as an essential part of tourism. Achury is a town with 29 hectares of land (72 acres), but only nine hectares are used for pastures. The remainder is left as natural forest. There are also areas for avocado, wood and agroforestry.
“We give people a sense that they belong to nature.” Before, people were only concerned about cutting down the trees. As a result, we have to restore [nature]Achury says. Water and forests are essential for life. We, tourists, and the rest of the world need this.
According to Arbey Barrios López, a member of the Camaxagua Youth Corporation, a collective of young people who work in sustainable tourism and biodiversity monitoring in Mesetas, conservation areas such as the highest part of the Sierra de la Macarena mountain range are well preserved.
“At the foot of the mountain, we have ‘bald’ spots, as some people call them, with small remaining forest areas. Barrios says, “Our commitment is that these spots will grow.”
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But the conflict has resurfaced in many regions. ColombiaMeta, the Meta department is also included.
Recently, we heard about that [armed groups] Ten million pesos was the offer [£1,800] They recruit youths with problems in their families or other issues. Luis Eduardo Molano is the director of Camaxagua. “When we come across young people who are in this position, we encourage them to take up sports and tourism. We are keeping them out of war by offering kayaking and rafting classes.
Despite the fact that there haven’t been any incidents where the collectives operate in the area, some are concerned. reports of violence in other parts of Meta Mesetas’ tourist industry is already affected. “I think that if the armed groups had not reappeared, our situation would be much better,” says Rodríguez, lamenting a fall in visitor numbers this year.
The resurgence in the conflict has also brought back chronic problems related to organised crime. Rodríguez and his wife removed their project from the internet after receiving extortion calls – which turned out to be not from guerrillas or militias but from inmates inside prisons.
“Many of our lives are based on tourism.” Molano says, “It’s a worry that war will bring chaos back.”
Catypsa faces its own challenges following reports of threats by dissident Farc groups (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia). The collectives still plan to continue their projects, and even hope to expand as the UNDP’s project ends.
Barrios: “We are hopeful that our organisation can soon be self-sufficient and that it will continue to develop a form of tourism which benefits the whole community.”
Camaxagua wants the government to provide more support for residents in this area. Barrios says that if we started paying communities to provide conservation services and if they became forest rangers this would be more efficient than having five professionals working on 650,000 acres.
Nicol Castillo acknowledges the importance of the community in preservation and restoration. However, she states that her municipality is limited with resources. Castillo says that the administration must continue to look for alternative solutions. Payments for environmental services and carbon credits have been considered.
Roncancio compares the environmental problems of the country with the conflict. He began birdwatching five years ago and has been monitoring biodiversity in the area ever since. “If a treaty was signed during the conflict, then why not with nature?” He says. “I know it’s not easy – now, protecting the environment can cost us our lives.”
