Background
The municipality of Timbiquí, located in the department of Cauca on Colombia’s Pacific coast, is home to 8,917 hectares of mangroves, representing nearly half of the mangroves in the department. The coastal area is collectively owned by Afro-Colombian communities through community councils, including the Cuerval Community Council (CCdC), which oversees 2,748 hectares of mangroves. These ecosystems are vital to local livelihoods, supporting activities such as fishing, shellfish gathering, and coconut cultivation, while also providing materials like wood and poles for domestic use. However, threats like illegal harvesting, coconut cultivation expansion, and inadequate resource use practices are degrading these mangroves, exacerbating issues such as coastal erosion and ecosystem instability.
To address these challenges, the CRC established the PNREC protected area in 2016 within the CCdC’s territory, covering 1,100 hectares, 70% of which are mangroves. This initiative aligns with the CCdC's environmental management plan and aims to combat threats like land-use changes, plastic pollution, and resource overexploitation. Despite ongoing efforts, monitoring between 2012 and 2018 revealed continued mangrove loss and ecosystem degradation, highlighting the need for restoration strategies and community-based monitoring systems.
CTCN support
This technical assistance focuses on developing restoration strategies that address underlying degradation processes, maintain ecosystem services critical to local livelihoods, and mitigate climate change through avoided emissions. It also aims to establish a community-based MRV system to measure the impact of mitigation activities and explore opportunities in the carbon market.
Expected outcome
The technical assistance aims to develop and implement effective restoration and monitoring strategies for the mangrove areas of the Cuerval Community Council (CCdC), ensuring their sustainable development. These strategies will enhance ecosystem services, support local livelihoods, and contribute to climate change mitigation through avoided emissions and sustainable resource management. Key outcomes include:
- Work plan and communication documents: A comprehensive work plan and supporting communication materials to guide the restoration and monitoring initiatives.
- Coordination mechanism: Establishment of a structured coordination mechanism to streamline collaboration and decision-making among stakeholders.
- Mangrove restoration strategy: A tailored restoration strategy for the CCdC mangroves, focusing on the protected area, addressing underlying degradation processes, and promoting ecosystem recovery.
- Community monitoring strategy: Design of a community-based MRV (Measurement, Reporting, and Verification) system to ensure the sustainability and effectiveness of restoration actions, fostering long-term environmental and socio-economic benefits.
