About TBI Colombia

TBI Colombia works with academic institutions, policy makers and local indigenous, afro-descendent and settler communities to build capacity and carry out research programs that reflect the local perspectives and support the recognition, strengthening and protection of traditional knowledge related to conservation and the sound use of tropical forest.

Our programme works in the generation of information from a local perspective in order to improve the management of natural resources, and promote sound decision making and a fit political negotiation about the Amazon forest of Colombia. The programme particularly focuses on indigenous legislation, natural resources management plans in protected areas, community monitoring of the forest ecosystem, sustainability strategies of indigenous communities from an ecological and socioeconomic perspective, environmental services, climate change and food security. TBI Colombia does this by supporting and enhancing participatory monitoring and local research processes ,by providing resources, guidance and analysis tools to local researchers, grants and by stimulating collaborative projects in the Colombian protected areas.

Main objectives of TBI Colombia

TBI Colombia's main objectives are:

1. The compilation of information about forest management from the indigenous perspective
2. Providing support to indigenous forest communities and organizations for the formulation of spatial planning processes
3. Providing support to indigenous communities and National Parks for the formulation and implementation of natural resources management plans to be included within the protected area's management plan
4. Generating information related to ecological, socioeconomic and market dynamics for improving the implementation of income-generating initiatives in indigenous communities
5. Anticipating the implications of climate change on the food security of indigenous communities

Partners

TBI’s Colombia main partners are the Alexander von Humboldt Institute Biological Resource Research Institute, CRIMA Regional Council for the Upper Amazon, the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Territory Development, the National Natural Parks Special Unit, the Ministry of Culture, Patrimonio Natural – Fund for the Diversity and Protected Areas, SENA National Training Services of Colombia and various national universities.

Working areas

Since the beginning of the programme, in 1986, TBI Colombia has worked in the area of Araracuara in the central Colombian Amazon. In 2001, work began in Amacayacu National Park and with several indigenous communities in and around this protected area. In 2009, TBI Colombia started working in La Paya National Park in the Putumayo Basin and other parks of the National Natural Park Special Unit of the Ministry of Environment. We have recently initiated projects in the bio-geographic Chocó region related to afro-descendent knowledge and strengthening of local organizations in projects held with SENA and Patrimonio Natural.