Sustainable Livestock Farming as a Tool for Ecosystem Protection

Ibagué, Tolima. March 27, 2026. From AGROSAVIA’s Nataima Research Center, an initiative is being implemented that reflects a strong commitment to sustainability, environmental conservation, and rural well-being. This initiative is the project “Conservation and Sustainable Use of Natural Resources – Herencia Colombia KfW,” an effort that integrates science, territory, and community.

This project is carried out in partnership with Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia and Patrimonio Natural, and is financially supported by the German government through the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and the KfW Development Bank. Together, these institutions promote strategies aligned with global priorities regarding climate change and climate variability—areas to which the Corporation has remained firmly committed.

Through a participatory approach, the project promotes the co-design of sustainable conservation systems with 50 farming families located in the buffer zone of Las Hermosas National Natural Park, in the municipality of Chaparral.

Although livestock farming plays a significant role in the rural economy of this area, it is essential to encourage a transition from traditional production models to sustainable systems to harmonize livestock production with Andean ecosystems.

The project’s objectives reflect a comprehensive vision that combines productivity, conservation, and social development:

• 75 hectares managed under silvopastoral models and rotational grazing systems.
• 50 Voluntary Conservation Agreements with Well-being, signed with participating families.
• 15,000 linear meters of strategic ecosystems protected within livestock farms.
• Strengthening capacities in nursery management, farm and forage planning, and sustainable livestock practices.
• Promotion of knowledge exchange among farmers, fostering peer-to-peer learning and teaching.

This project reaffirms the role of AGROSAVIA as a key institution in transforming Colombia’s agricultural sector. Beyond research, its approach integrates innovation with local knowledge, and collaboration with other institutions at both national and international levels—as demonstrated in this project—enables the development of solutions that address the country’s environmental and productive challenges.

The Herencia Colombia initiative not only seeks to conserve natural resources and foster collaborative work with institutions such as Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia and KfW Development Bank, but also to dignify rural life, strengthen peasant economies, and demonstrate that sustainability is achievable when science and communities work hand in hand.

In a global context where ecosystem protection is urgent, projects like this position Colombia and AGROSAVIA as leaders in building a more resilient, responsible, and sustainable agricultural model.