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R2A in Colombia

September 10, 2020

R2A in Colombia
San Martin, Meta, Colombia. Edilson Ortiz Arango (61) with his herds or moves his cattle to be milked every morning. Edilson owns 12 cows that on average they make 20 liters that he sells for COP$ 900 per liter (USD $0.30). Edilson and his family of seven were displaced from Vista Hermosa, Meta in 1999 when the Colombian Government and FARC were undergoing peace negotiations and agreed to create a demilitarized zone in the region. FARC started to visit Edilson’s farm and he fear for his safety and of that of his family and left his farm and moved to Bogota. As part of reparation program for internally displaced victims in 2004. Edilson joined the Sustainable ranching program where he has been adopting sustainable practices to increase production, profits and climate changing patterns. © Juan Arredondo for The Nature Conservancy.

Context

In Colombia, livestock farming is the main agricultural activity and one of the most significant contributors to the national economy. Approximately 34.4 million hectares in the country are used as pastures, and livestock farming occupies 30% of the national territory.

This sector generates 908,000 direct jobs that represent 6% of national employment, 28% of rural employment and 19% of employment in the agricultural sector. However, conventional livestock production contributes to severe land degradation and transforms ecosystems, with cattle being responsible for 62% of the total greenhouse gas emissions generated by the livestock industry.

Conventional cattle ranching presents challenges such as high costs of agricultural supplies and inefficient use of natural resources. In addition, climate change is generating more frequent and intense droughts and floods, making this sector one of the most affected by extreme climate events.

The Sustainable Colombian Livestock Farming Project Works in Five Regions to Transform the Country’s Livestock Practices

Ranching and Agriculture (R2A) program, more than 4,000 ranchers have been able to restore habitat while increasing land productivity. They’ve planted 3.5M trees to date.
LIVESTOCK AND REGENERATIVE AGRICULTURE STRATEGY More than 4,000 ranchers have been able to restore the habitat while increasing the productivity of their land. To date, they have planted 3.5 million trees. © Juan Arredondo

Working Towards Sustainable and Regenerative Livestock Farming

Conventional livestock farming practices such as the conversion of natural areas into pastures and overgrazing result in the loss of natural habitat and biodiversity, soil erosion and degradation, and also impact water sources.

The Sustainable Colombian Livestock Farming Project is a proposal for social, environmental and economic transformation that seeks to generate comprehensive well-being among the stakeholders and farmers of the region. This will increase the opportunities, the socioeconomic development and quality of life of producers and their families, while creating an environmental transformation through the regeneration and conservation of resources and ecosystem biodiversity.  

Our goal is to promote environmentally friendly livestock farming by encouraging more sustainable production practices in this sector. This will improve ecosystem services' health, increase biodiversity, enhance soil conditions, carbon capture, water retention, and ultimately achieve higher productivity on participating farms. 

The Sustainable Livestock Farming Project, through our strategy and in collaboration with local ranchers, has transformed livestock practices in more than 42 thousand hectares of farmland through regenerative practices such as agroforestry systems and intensive agroforestry systems. We also provide technical support, in order to strengthen the capacity and resilience of livestock farmers and producers.

Implemented Practices

Sistemas agronómicos
Cercas vivas (cenital) Este predio ganadero en Quindío, Colombia, divide sus áreas con cercas vivas, planificando el suelo que aprovechará de manera responsable. Imagen de dron de monitoreo. © TNC Colombia
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Sistemas silvopastoriles Este predio ganadero en Quindío, Colombia, divide sus áreas con cercas vivas, planificando el suelo que aprovechará de manera responsable. Imagen de dron de monitoreo. © TNC Colombia
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Mercedes Murillo, rancher Mercedes Murillo attends to her cows on her farm, San Martin, Meta, Colombia. © Juan Arredondo
Sistemas agronómicos
Cercas vivas (cenital) Este predio ganadero en Quindío, Colombia, divide sus áreas con cercas vivas, planificando el suelo que aprovechará de manera responsable. Imagen de dron de monitoreo. © TNC Colombia

R2A IN COLOMBIA

Live Fences

This practice, which is a part of agroforestry systems, uses native trees and forage shrubs to delineate grazing areas. Additionally, they serve as windbreaks and provide landscape connectivity, forming ecological corridors that allow the passage of wildlife and conserve biodiversity. Trees and shrubs of different species can replace wood or cement posts and wires. These live fences also serve as forage for feeding livestock.

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Sistemas silvopastoriles Este predio ganadero en Quindío, Colombia, divide sus áreas con cercas vivas, planificando el suelo que aprovechará de manera responsable. Imagen de dron de monitoreo. © TNC Colombia

R2A IN COLOMBIA

Trees scattered in pastures

Whether planted or naturally regenerated, scattered trees conserve biodiversity, provide permanent food and shade for livestock, reduce stress on animals from high temperatures, and improve livestock product yields such as meat and milk. These scattered trees also supply additional products, such as fruit and wood.

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Mercedes Murillo, rancher Mercedes Murillo attends to her cows on her farm, San Martin, Meta, Colombia. © Juan Arredondo

R2A IN COLOMBIA

AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS

These integrated systems combine pastures, high-density forage shrubs, and fruit trees, enhancing carbon storage in areas dedicated to livestock. It also employs pasture rotation and provides a permanent water supply.

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Benefits

4,100 livestock farmers have employed agroforestry systems and regenerative and conservation practices that improve the conditions of their farms and cattle, improving production and the quality of their products.

  • The Sustainable Colombian Livestock project encompasses 18,283 hectares under conservation and has achieved a 30% increase in bird species biodiversity.
  • 38,390 hectares of degraded pastures have been transformed thanks to 3.1 million trees planted.
  • This project has contributed to the capture and avoided emission of 1,566 MTCO2e through the implementation of regenerative and conservation practices. 
  • Agroforestry systems and intensive agroforestry systems allow for a 3% improvement in milk quality and the production of 2,849 liters of milk per year (almost three times the milk production achieved with conventional livestock farming).

 

Blanca Raquel August 13, 2018. Meyer, Meta, Colombia. Blanca Raquel Guerrero (52) stands un one of the first trees she planted in her farm as part of This is part of silvopastoral systems, forage banks and living fences made up of native species that provide shelter for wildlife and in many cases help connect forest patches to protected areas, serving as wildlife corridors. Ms. Guerrero helped implement many of the sustainable practices on the farms of its members. Ms. Guerrero was displaced from Vista Hermosa, Meta in 2000 after FARC gain control of the territory as she was accused of being an informant and assisting the Colombian Army. She arrived to San Martin with her six children and began to work for the property rights of internally displaced peasants. She was on the first members to join and help promote Sustainable ranching program in her farm. © Juan Arredondo for The Nature Conservancy.

There is not a single human being who does not need farmers

Blanca Raquel

Chair of Asogranja, in San Martin, Meta

I have received payments for live fences, forest and scattered trees, I am a very happy sustainable livestock farmer

Mercedes Murillo

Beneficiary of the Sustainable Colombian Livestock project
Mercedes Murillo August 9, 2018. San Martin, Meta, Colombia. Mercedes Murillo (62) cuts a patch of Gmelina arborea that provide timer for making fences or furniture as well as a high source of protein for cattle. Mercedes fled with her four children from the town of Manacal, Meta, after FARC sieged the town killing several civilians. Mercedes fear that her 14-year-old son was going to be recruited and decided to flee the town with her four children leaving her house and store behind. As part of reparation program for internally displaced victims in 2004 she was given a 20-acre farm. Mercedes joined the Sustainable ranching program where he has been adopting sustainable practices to increase production, profits and climate changing patterns. © Juan Arredondo for The Nature Conservancy.
Roxana Adames August 11, 2018. San Martin, Meta, Colombia. Rosana Adamez Hernandez (58) with her husband Edilson Ortiz Arango (61) who have been married for 25 years. She and Edilson with their children were displaced from Vista Hermosa, Meta in 1999 when the Colombian Government and FARC were undergoing peace negotiations and agreed to create a demilitarized zone in the region. FARC started to visit Edilson’s farm and he fear for his safety and of that of his family and left his farm and moved to Bogota. As part of reparation program for internally displaced victims in 2004. Edilson joined the Sustainable ranching program where he has been adopting sustainable practices to increase production, profits and climate changing patterns. © Juan Arredondo for The Nature Conservancy.

The weather has changed a lot, so trees have to be planted in order to retain more moisture in the soil and provide more shade

Roxana Adames

Livestock farmer, San Martín, Meta

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