In the Farallones de Cali, the mountain eagle inspires community restoration
Photo: Luis Felipe Quintero
Santiago de Cali, May 30, 2025.
High up in the Farallones of Cali National Natural Park, where the fog settles over the Andean forests, the echo of the majestic flight of the mountain eagle or Spizaetus isidori (EN) resonates. This imposing bird of prey, which can measure up to 77 cm with wings reaching 1.70 meters wide, is a symbol of ecological balance. However, its presence is now threatened.
“I am very excited avout this project. Imagine seeing the eagle! I am happy, blissfull. I want to go anywhere to look for it and take advantage of the opportunity to invite people to care for the environment.” Martha Cecilia Díaz Villota, resident of the Pueblo Nuevo village in the Los Andes district.
An indicator of the forest’s good condition
The mountain golden eagle, one of the most threatened species in South America, inhabits remnants of native forest in high mountain areas. Its diet includes medium-sized mammals and birds.It plays a vital role as a population regulator and as an indicator of healthy ecosystems. However, the deterioration of its habitat caused by agricultural expansion, urbanisation and the accelerated loss of forest cover, has put its survival at risk.
This environmental crisis is compounded by the proliferation of invasive species such as the bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum), which prevents the natural regeneration of the forest and other human pressures, such as illegal mining, overexploitation of water resources and soil fertility loss in the Farallones of Cali.
Photo: Vanessa Suárez, Fundación Impulso Verde
Restoring the eagle’s flight is caring for life
Since 2023, the Fundationn Impulso Verde Kuaspue has been leading an ecological restoration and community strengthening project in the districts of Los Andes and Pichindé. Its goal is to recover the eagle’s habitat through the planting of native trees, the promotion of agroecological practices and the creation of a network of women meliponiculturists who promote productive alternatives that respectthe territory.
Over the next few months, the project will intervene in degraded areas in villages such as Pueblo Nuevo, Peñas Blancas and Quebrada Honda, including experimental pilots for controlling the bracken fern in five hectares per village. These actions aim to restore the forest’s ecosystem services with community leadership.
Photo: Vanessa Suárez, Fundación Impulso Verde
Restoration with social roots
Restoration is both environmental and social. The project includes 12 theoretical-practical workshops on biodiversity, conservation and participatory monitoring. Additionally, it strengthens female leadership processes through meliponiculture — the raising of native stingless bees — and agroecology, with the cultivation of vegetables and coffee as productive alternatives.
“My greatest dream is to continue conserving here, without having to leave. To teach my children and the community what it means to care for nature, not for money, but for awareness.” Zoraida Bermúdez, resident of the Peñas Blancas village in the Pichindé district.
Photo: Vanessa Suárez, Fundación Impulso Verde
As part of the project, an exchange of experiences will also be held with 40 community participants, environmental authorities, companies and strategic allies. The space will allow sharing the lessons and achievements reached in Los Andes and Pichindé, as well as socializing the participatory diagnosis on restoration in the Farallones of Cali National Natural Park.
A commitment to equity and biodiversity
Woman leadership not only cares for the forest,they also weaves community and opens paths towards fairer conservation. Therefore, the project includes the formulation of an institutional gender policy for the Fundation Impulso Verde, with a multicultural approach that recognizes the differentiated capacities and contributions of women and men in ecological restoration processes. This policy is nourished by the Colombian-Frenchcharacter of the Foundation and a technical team deeply rooted in the territory, mostly composed of people of peasant, indigenous origin or with extensive experience in community work.
This project, which combines science, tradition and community participation, seeks to ensure that the flight of Spizaetus isidori continues to soar through the skies of southwestern Colombia. This project is supported by the Critical Ecosystem Partnership Fund (CEF), a joint initiative of the French Development Agency, Conservation International, the European Union, the Hans Wilsdorf Foundation, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Canada, the Government of Japan, and the World Bank. In the Tropical Andes, the program is funded by the Government of Canada through Global Affairs Canada, with the aim of strengthening civil society in the conservation of biological diversity.
Communications Fundación Impulso Verde
Références
Rivas-Fuenzalida, T., J. M. Grande, S. Kohn, F. H. Vargas, and S. Zuluaga Castañeda (2024). Black-and-chestnut Eagle (Spizaetus isidori), version 3.0. In Birds of the World (S. M. Billerman, Editor). Cornell Lab of Ornithology, Ithaca, NY, USA. https://doi.org/10.2173/bow.baceag2.03
