Aventure Colombia’s Wildlife Conservation Project: A Holistic Approach to Preserving Colombia’s Biodiversity

Fundación Wild Colombia is the result of the collaboration between Marianna Pinto-Marroquín, a young Colombian scientist passionate about jaguar conservation and finalizing her PhD on feline conservation, and Julien Rouyrre, the French director of Aventure Colombia, who has worked in ecotourism for 15 years after starting his career in the human rights field. Together, they decided to create Fundación Wild Colombia.

This foundation is dedicated to conserving Colombia’s unique ecosystems and endangered species while promoting sustainable development in local communities. Below, we explore four key thematic areas of their work: a private reserve in the Chingaza National Park, jaguar conservation in Darién, biocultural preservation efforts with the Arhuaco indigenous people in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, and bird conservation in San José del Guaviare.

1. A Private Reserve in Chingaza: A Sanctuary for the Andean Bear

Located in the buffer zone of Chingaza National Park, this conservation area encompasses Andean forest and páramo ecosystems, which are vital for water regulation for millions of people. One of the main objectives is the protection of emblematic species such as the Andean Bear (Tremarctos ornatus), also known as the Spectacled Bear.

Actions focus on the conservation of the Andean Bear through agreements with local inhabitants, in which farmers reduce practices that negatively impact ecosystems, such as livestock farming, and increase the areas designated for the conservation of the Andean forest and páramo on their property. In exchange, they receive greater economic benefits through the strengthening of ecotourism. In parallel, the foundation conducts ongoing research and community monitoring of the Andean bear population, using camera traps to study their habits and movements to develop effective conservation strategies. Additionally, it implements an education and communication strategy to involve local communities in the conservation process and promote coexistence with wildlife.

2. Darién: Protecting the Jaguar and Its Habitat

Fundación Wild Colombia supports efforts to strengthen connectivity and conservation in biological corridors that allow jaguars to inhabit protected areas, ensuring genetic diversity. The foundation participates in a project led by scientists and local farmers to mitigate conflicts between humans and jaguars. It provides camera traps and supports the consolidation of community-based tourism projects revolving around the Harpy Eagle and the Embera Indigenous communities.

3. The Arhuacos of the Sierra Nevada: Guardians of the Heart of the World

Aventure Colombia and Fundación Wild Colombia have partnered with the Arhuacos to protect the ecosystems and cultural heritage of the Sierra Nevada, a sacred territory where they have lived in harmony with nature for centuries. This project seeks to safeguard the Arhuacos' sacred sites, which are also ecologically significant, while preserving their culture’s deep ecological values. Additionally, in her PhD, Marianna studied the role of the jaguar in Arhuaco cosmology and found that this species holds a central cultural role as the guardian of ecological balance on Earth. This is why Arhuaco rituals, guided by spiritual leaders, help people reflect on their responsibility for ecological imbalances following feline attacks on cattle, framing these interactions from a non-confrontational perspective and transforming negative attitudes toward coexistence. The foundation focuses on promoting positive coexistence between the Arhuaco people and the jaguar and is studying how to apply this approach to manage complex wildlife conflicts in other contexts.

4. San José del Guaviare: Bird Conservation in Laguna Negra and Surrounding Forests

Located at the gateway to the Amazon rainforest, this region is of great ecological importance, especially known for its fauna. In the village of Playa Guio, communities organize to care for the surrounding rainforests, which are home to a wide variety of wildlife species, many of which are endemic or endangered birds in the flood zone known as Laguna Negra.
The bird conservation project focuses on preserving critical habitats for breeding and nesting aquatic species. Monitoring the nests of key species helps to establish migratory patterns and plan conservation strategies. In this community, birdwatching is being organized as a sustainable tourism activity, which is carried out based on a birdwatching best practices guide, offering economic opportunities and educating people about the benefits of conservation.

About Aventure Colombia

Through its non-profit arm, Fundación Wild Colombia, Aventure Colombia is making a significant impact on wildlife conservation across some of Colombia’s most critical ecosystems. Whether protecting the Andean bear in the páramos, safeguarding the jaguar in Darién, supporting the Arhuacos in the Sierra Nevada, or conserving birdlife in San José del Guaviare, these projects exemplify a holistic approach to conservation. By combining scientific research, community involvement, and sustainable tourism, Aventure Colombia and Fundación Wild Colombia are helping ensure that Colombia’s remarkable biodiversity is preserved for future generations.