Regarding the business strategies surrounding the celebration of COP16 in Cali, which will begin in the coming days, The Colombian sugarcane sector made two announcements regarding the care of biodiversity, but in addition to its contributions as an economic line in caring for the environment.
(See: The ABC to understand what COP16 is and what is the purpose of this event)
In conversation with Claudia Calero, president of the union that brings together 13 mills, Asocaña, it was stated that The first initiative is the implementation of a biodiverse corridor along the Cauca River, that will intervene at least 890 kilometers.
“There are 900 properties that are included in this commitment, which have an extension of 890 kilometers that include 13 tributary rivers of the Cauca River and 80 wetlands. This implies a restoration of more than 6,500 hectares of strategic ecosystems and added to the planting of at least one million trees”, he indicated.
(Read more: The loss of biodiversity and other issues that will be discussed at COP16 in Cali)
In this way, the board highlighted that this project involves the 13 associated mills, as well as It is part of a commitment by more than 11,000 sugar cane growers.
Biodiversity
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In front of COP16, Calero highlighted that the union will be a participant in the conference, also announcing the implementation of the corridor, which in terms of figures already has a pilot in the Anaime River basin. This initiative, furthermore, It seeks to protect the 640 species that have been identified along the Cauca River and will have interaction with 30 municipalities between the departments of Cauca, Valle del Cauca and Risaralda.
(Read: Amarilo launches its biodiversity policy to build in harmony with nature)
“What we have thought is that these decisions, which have involved many months of work and consultation with all the actors in the chain, are the best bet and the best gift that we can give to Colombia and the southwest. Decisions involve investments, technological reconversion and also ensuring that an environmental issue does not displace a social issue. This is what we can contribute to biodiversity and especially to the issue of COP16”he explained.
It is worth noting that this initiative is based on an interest in protecting the private sector, especially sugar producers. For this reason, Angie Riascos, sustainability director of the Providencia mill, explained that being part of the biological connectivity initiative of the Anaime River watershed represents not only the strengthening and interest in conservation of the flora and fauna of the departments, but it also works as an example of how agricultural production processes can coexist together with the conservation of biodiversity.
(See also: The role of private companies in the preservation of biodiversity)
Biodiverse corridor in the Cauca River
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“These are not antagonistic processes, but on the contrary, to the extent that we have these initiatives, we can coexist agricultural processes together with the conservation of biodiversity. And it will be a great opportunity to increase the number of species in the region, birds and mammals that we have in this entire context of Valle del Cauca.”he added.
(Read more: How recycled plastic boosts the sustainable economy on Colombian beaches)
In this context, the sustainability director assured that this mill has been advancing in the protection of 414 hectares of nature that are part of the Protective Forest Reserve of the Amaime River, where they work hand in hand with experts to conserve 30 water sources, more than 194 species of birds and nearly 450 species of flora.
“Committed to protecting this sanctuary of life, we facilitate the natural regeneration of forests by implementing mobile nurseries where emblematic species such as the Wax Palm germinate, as well as other species of endemic trees in danger of extinction such as the Black Cedar, Pink Cedar, Laurel , Cumin and Palm Grinder”, he indicated.
(See: Starbucks will bet on more sustainable stores in the country under the ‘Greener Store’ program‘)
Sugarcane agroindustry
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End burning of sugar cane
Now, the other announcement that the president of Asocaña referred to, has to do with ending sugar cane burning in at least five years. This has been implemented in social dialogue with the producers, workers and unions that collect the cane harvesters, who are the ones who benefit from the previous burning.
(See also: TotalEnergies and Air France-KLM agreed for 1.5 million tons of SAF until 2035)
“There are more than 4,000 cane cutters who depend on this activity, who today earn 2.5 current legal minimum wages and where 96% of this population is unionized. That is why it was so important to do this social dialogue exercise with them, so that together we could determine a date for this environmental change to go hand in hand with a comprehensive and sustainable labor solution.”, he stated.
It is worth noting that the transformation process of this practice lies in the mechanization of cane cutting. For this, Currently 80% of raw material collection is mechanized, But there is still a missing 20%, which is what is expected to be transformed, since today it is done by burning under strict environmental and safety protocols.
(Read: ‘Integrating sustainability will help companies succeed in the long term’: ERM)
“For us, this implies, in addition to a job reconversion, of course also an investment in science, technology and innovation, because the cultivated fields will have to adapt to these new technologies that in some places we would have to start designing and establishing.”, confirmed Claudia Calero.
