The implementation of sustainable livestock systems projects begins in the National Natural Park Sierra de La Macarena, a strategic alliance with AGROSAVIA

• To contribute to livestock production systems through science, technology, and innovation while protecting the region's biodiversity.
• To execute the activities, a series of practices have been prioritized, including grassland management, strengthening biodiversity, connectivity, bovine nutritional and reproductive management tools, genetic evaluation, efficient management of water resources, and animal health and welfare.

 

Villavicencio, Meta. August 8, 2024. The La Libertad Research Center of AGROSVIA, in coordination with Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia (PNNC) [National Natural Parks of Colombia] and with international cooperation resources through KFW, began the execution of the project on sustainable conservation systems for livestock in the National Natural Park Sierra de la Macarena.

This initiative, which began its preparation stage in November 2023, aims to contribute to livestock production systems through science, technology, and innovation and, in turn, protect the region's biodiversity.

To implement the project and after a selection process established by PNNC, 150 livestock farming families were identified in eight villages in the municipality of Vista Hermosa (Meta), who must meet a series of criteria to be part of the focal group of the initiative. These criteria are designed to ensure that livestock practices contribute to the conservation and sustainable management of the protected area.

The project extends in its first phase to the municipality of Vista Hermosa and has started activities in the areas of Guapaya Alto, Guapaya Medio, Guapaya Bajo, El Palmar, La Lealtad, La Borrascosa, Maracaibo and La Esmeralda.

The areas involved will be subject to a series of interventions, mainly from the technological offer of AGROSAVIA and in a participatory manner by the beneficiaries. In addition, the PNNC technical team will accompany the process to ensure that wildlife and local ecosystems are protected while ensuring food security for peasant producers and the productive development of the communities involved.

The initial discussions with livestock producers have established an open and constructive dialogue, ensuring that their perspectives are involved and that their expectations are aligned with the project's objectives. In this first interaction, the producers actively participated for about seven days in the different areas to be intervened.

For the execution of the activities, a series of practices have been prioritized, including grassland management, strengthening of biodiversity, connectivity, tools for bovine nutritional and reproductive management, genetic evaluation, efficient management of water resources, health, animal welfare, and specialized technical support from AGROSAVIA's professionals and researchers.

Additionally, the integration of local communities is essential for the project's technical implementation and to ensure that sustainable development is aligned with the expectations of those who live and work in this region. This will foster a sense of ownership and commitment to long-term conservation, which ensures the initiative's success and achieves the signing of new conservation agreements at the end of the project.