For three days, we participated in the First Orinoquía Green and Competitive Summit in Villavicencio (Colombia) a gathering that brought together regional, national, and international speakers committed to shaping a sustainable future for the Orinoquía region. The event explored three key themes driving the transformation of this strategic territory:
- Governance, nature, and bioeconomy to envision a sustainable Orinoquía.
- Productive transformation to strengthen competitive and sustainable value chains.
- The power of the territory through financial, policy, and nature-based solutions that reinforce climate resilience.
From REDD+ Matavén, we shared our experience and long-term vision, guided by the Indigenous leadership that defines the project. It was an opportunity to highlight how an Indigenous governance model, where approximately 90% of revenues are reinvested into activities and programs that directly benefit the communities, can serve as a powerful example of conservation and sustainable development for Colombia and the world.
The Orinoquía region plays a strategic role in global climate action. It connects vital ecosystems, holds extraordinary hydrological and biological richness, and represents one of Colombia’s most promising frontiers for a bioeconomy that respects nature and strengthens local communities.
REDD+ Matavén is strategically located in the transition between the Orinoquía and the Colombian Amazon, in the Selva Matavén Indigenous Reserve. This essential ecological corridor is safeguarded by six Indigenous peoples who protect more than one million hectares of tropical forests, conserving its waters, biodiversity, and cultural heritage.
The conversations throughout the Summit reinforced an essential message, the future of the Orinoquía grows stronger when communities have the tools, opportunities, and partnerships to continue protecting nature.
We continue building alliances that foster development with living nature and Indigenous leadership, strengthening climate action directly from the territory.