At REDD+ Matavén, we continue working toward a future where Indigenous communities lead their own development and protect the forest as a vital part of their identity and well-being. Recently, we held two in-person seminars focused on training and planning for community-based productive projects, one of the eight core activities of the REDD+ Matavén Project.
The first session took place at the ACATISEMA headquarters in Cumaribo. The second was held at the Universidad Minuto de Dios in Inírida. Both meetings featured the active participation of cabildos, zonal coordinators, community leaders, and ACATISEMA’s administrative staff, all of whom contributed ideas, experiences, and commitment to each session.
Why Productive Projects Matter
Productive projects are a tangible and effective tool for ensuring three essential pillars of sustainable development in Matavén:
- Food security for Indigenous families
- Economic self-sufficiency based on environmentally respectful practices
- Active conservation of the territory’s natural resources
Through these initiatives, communities generate income, strengthen their autonomy, and protect their forests, rivers, and ancestral knowledge.
Five Major Projects Serving the Territory
During the seminars, we presented the five large-scale productive projects we are currently implementing with technical guidance, community participation, and a long-term sustainability approach:
- Agroforestry systems with cacao, native food species, and timber trees
- Integrated agro-silvopastoral farms
- Captive breeding of ornamental fish
- Community-based ecotourism
- COOMATAVÉN Multiactive Cooperative
Learning by Doing: Project Formulation Workshop Using the PLF Method
A central part of each seminar was a hands-on project formulation workshop using the Participatory Logical Framework (PLF) methodology.
Participants worked in groups to design proposals tailored to their territories, identifying problems, objectives, activities, budgets, and timelines. This practical exercise strengthened their technical abilities and their capacity for autonomous planning.
Participation, Autonomy, and Collective Action
These training spaces are essential for building stronger and more participatory governance in Matavén. They also reinforce the link between the goals of the REDD+ Matavén Project and the real needs of the communities.
We remain committed to promoting dialogue, training, and collaborative design of solutions that benefit the entire territory.
Want to explore our productive projects in depth?
Click here to learn more about each initiative and how they are transforming lives and landscapes across Matavén.