Bogotá and WWF will work to strengthen the District System of Protected Areas, with new management and sustainability tools
Bogotá signed an agreement with the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Colombia with the purpose of strengthening the planning, administration and monitoring of the District System of Protected Areas (SDAP). The agreement seeks to consolidate technical tools that allow measuring the effectiveness of environmental management and ecological and social connectivity in urban ecosystems.
The District System of Protected Areas has 32 zones under special managementamong which are wetland reserves, mountain ecological parks and sustainable landscapeswhich together cover more than 13,000 hectares. These areas are fundamental for the conservation of Bogotá’s biodiversity and the maintenance of ecosystem services that benefit the city.
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The agreement contemplates technical support from WWF to develop effectiveness and connectivity indicators that allow evaluating progress in environmental management. The alliance will also seek to strengthen the relationship with local communitieswhich play a key role in the conservation of urban ecosystems.
Besides, shared governance schemes will be promoted that integrate the different cultural and social visions regarding the management of the territories, recognizing the importance of citizen participationa in the protection of natural resources.
The executive director of WWF Colombia, Sandra Valenzuela, pointed out that this agreement will position Bogotá as a pioneer in the analysis of the effectiveness of its protected areas and in the development of urban sustainability indicators. The initiative is part of WWF’s institutional strategy towards 2025, which prioritizes transformative climate action, inclusive governance and sustainable financing.
Among the expected results, the structuring and monitoring of 32 environmental management plansconsidered the roadmap for decision-making in each territory. Likewise, the design of a financial vehicle that brings together different sources of resourcesin order to overcome the historical budget gap and guarantee the sustainability of the system.
The District Environment Secretariat seeks to ensure that all protected areas have effective management plansbroader participation mechanisms and a stable financial model that allows its long-term conservation.
This alliance joins the actions promoted by the administration of Mayor Carlos Fernando Galánwho recently created the Directorate of Protected Areas within the Ministry of the Environment, with the aim of improving the management and governance of these spaces.
According to the entity, The implementation of this tool will be the first in a city in Colombiaand will serve to strengthen the management of the SDAP. The initiative aims toWell-managed protected areas contribute to increased biodiversity, reduced pollution and greater resilience to climate change.for the benefit of the well-being of citizens.
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With the strategic union between Ambiente Bogotá and WWFthe District seeks to move towards a more effective system of protected areas, which contributes significantly to the environmental sustainability and climate adaptation of the capital.
Source: Integrated Information System
