AGROSAVIA and National Natural Parks strengthen sustainable livestock production in areas adjacent to Sierra de la Macarena National Natural Park

Villavicencio, Meta. Diciembre 2 de 2025. Since March 2024, AGROSAVIA's La Libertad Research Center, Colombia's National Natural Parks (PNNC), KfW, and Patrimonio Natural have consolidated a strategic alliance to promote Sustainable Conservation Systems in Livestock Production in the areas bordering Sierra de la Macarena National Natural Park, one of the country's most strategic and biodiverse environmental areas.

The purpose of the project is to mitigate the impact of livestock production in the municipalities of Vista Hermosa, San Juan de Arama, and Mesetas by promoting responsible productive practices, restoring degraded areas, and strengthening producers' capacities in this region of Meta.

As part of the actions carried out, 225 farms were zoned, identifying areas for restoration, risk, preservation, and sustainable use. This territorial planning guided the implementation of silvopastoral models, pastureland management, and the strengthening of strategies for conserving water and soil resources.

In addition, the project integrated key lines for livestock sustainability, including:

• Restoration of degraded pastures through the establishment of adapted forage species and management practices that improve vegetation cover and productivity.
• Animal health analysis to ensure herd health and reduce epidemiological risks.
• Soil and forage analysis to adjust fertility and improve the nutritional quality of cattle feed.
• Nutrition and reproduction management aimed at increasing productive efficiency and reducing pressure on ecosystems.
• Practices for landscape conservation and connectivity, promoting the integration of productive systems with the forest cores of Sierra de la Macarena National Natural Park.

The project also included training and technical assistance processes with producers, promoting the adoption of sustainable livestock practices that improve productivity, reduce pressure on the ecosystem, and contribute to landscape connectivity with the forest cores of Sierra de la Macarena National Natural Park, in addition to linking AGROSAVIA's technological offerings to optimize the management of livestock systems in the park's buffer zone.

According to Olga Lucía Ruiz, Head of the park's protected area, "the success of this initiative depends on producers continuing to apply the recommendations, maintaining the treatments, and responsibly protecting the water sources present on their properties".

As a result of the joint work, 225 conservation and good-practice agreements were signed, distributed as follows:

• 150 agreements in Vista Hermosa.
• 21 agreements in San Juan de Arama.
• 54 agreements in Mesetas.

These agreements consolidate the commitment of the communities and the participating entities to the environmental and productive sustainability of the territory.

The training and technical assistance process had a positive impact on the communities. This is expressed by María Zully Sánchez Lemus, participant and beneficiary of the project: "We deeply appreciate these training spaces, which contribute to the productive development of Alto Ariari and allow us to advance toward more efficient livestock systems that are user-friendly with the environment. The project left us with very valuable knowledge, especially in sustainable management practices, reproductive improvement, and the techniques implemented during the insemination course held at the La Libertad Research Center. The experience was enriching and had a great impact on strengthening our capacities as producers".

This alliance between AGROSAVIA, Colombia's National Natural Parks, KfW, and Patrimonio Natural reaffirms the importance of collaborative work to implement more sustainable livestock systems that contribute to the protection of strategic ecosystems and to the well-being of rural families living in this region of the Orinoquía.