Restoring the high Andean forests: an urgent commitment to water and biodiversity preservation, along with communities
Nariño, May 06, 2025
On the occasion of International Mother Earth Day, the Impulso Verde Foundation, in alliance with local organizations, planted 2,600 native trees in the department of Nariño. This action is part of a comprehensive ecological restoration strategy that seeks to recover key ecosystems, strengthen community management of the territory and contribute to climate resilience.
Colombia has made significant progress in the fight against deforestation, registering in 2023 its lowest rate for decades. However, in the Andean region, particularly in the high Andean forests bordering the moorlands, critical threats persist, such as: the expansion of the agricultural frontier, driven mainly by dairy cattle ranching and the cultivation of intensive potato consumption, which continue to degrade these ecosystems, contaminate water sources and accelerate the loss of vegetation cover, essential for water regulation.
These ecosystems fulfill vital functions, such as regulating the water cycle, capturing carbon, mitigating the effects of climate change, and ahosting unique biodiversity. In Nariño alone, between 2001 and 2023, nearly 4,000 hectares of forest have been lost, with the consequent emission of millions of tons of CO₂.
To contribute to the reforestation in Colombia, Impulso Verde leads community reforestation activities in the south of the country, articulating environmental actions with the participation of peasant and indigenous communities together with territorial institutions. The Foundation’s reforestation program seeks the protection of water sources, the implementation of sustainable agricultural production systems, environmental education, and at the same time the preservation of ancestral knowledges.
“One of our main commitments has been the creation of a network of 15 community nurseries – eight of them led by indigenous communities – where 70% of those who manage them are women,” says Antoine Gérigné, president of the Foundation. “Thanks to this collective effort, we have already planted more than 1,350,000 native trees, integrating mayors, councils and more than 2500 small producers into our projects in Nariño.”
Yaramal: A Pilot with a Vision of the Future
On April 22, in the village of El Mirador in the District of Yaramal (Ipiales, Nariño), an ecological restoration pilot was implemented at more than 3,400 meters above sea level, with the aim of increasing the vegetation cover of native species in areas dominated by grasslands. The goal is, to restore functional diversity between the fragmented area and the reference ecosystem.
There, 2,600 trees of species such as myrtle, oak, pelotillo and pandala were planted on a property that, after the abandonment of agricultural activities, began a natural process of regeneration.
“One of our main commitments has been the creation of a network of 15 community nurseries – eight of them led by indigenous communities – where 70% of those who manage them are women,” says Antoine Gérigné, president of the Foundation. “Thanks to this collective effort, we have already planted more than 1,350,000 native trees, integrating mayors, councils and more than 2500 small producers into our projects in Nariño.”
The project is organized with the collaboration of the indigenous council, the Community Action Board, the Mayor’s Office of Ipiales, “Pastoral Social” Ipiales and the “Manantial de Vida” association of the Impulso Verde nursery network, which has actively participated in the selection of the land, the community mingas and the technical support.
“This process not only seeks to restore an ecosystem, but also to strengthen the connection of communities with their territory and promote local governance,” says Luisa Delgado, a professional at Impulso Verde.
The technique used in Yaramal is assisted nucleation, which consists of establishing small nuclei of native vegetation between trees and shrubs, in areas dominated by grasslands. These nuclei facilitate the natural dispersal of seeds, as they are zoochoric species, creating habitats for wildlife and accelerating the regeneration of the forest.
“To face frost – one of the greatest challenges in the area – living barriers are implemented and species adapted to the climate and soil type are selected, with the capacity to attract local fauna. Other challenges include the presence of invasive species such as Acacia decurrens, high grass cover, and widespread ignorance about the value of these ecosystems. In view of this, the Foundation promotes environmental education processes, intercultural dialogue and community capacity building,” says Diana Villota, a professional at Impulso Verde.
Restore for Life
Restoring the high Andean forests is an urgent action to guarantee access to water ressources, protect biodiversity and improve the quality of life of rural communities. The páramos supply drinking water to 70% of the Colombian population. Caring the ecosystems closeby must become a national and international priority.
The pilot in Yaramal represents a replicable model for other areas of the Nariño highlands, integrating scientific knowledge, community participation and spiritual connection with nature. Beyond planting trees, it is about bringing hope, future and life.
Communications Fundación Impulso Verde
