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About Colombia
Helping small-scale farmers since 2014 who are dependent on coffee production to regenerate ecosystems and create climate change-resilient communities.
Nariño & Cauca, Colombia
Listed as one of the most "megadiverse" countries in the world, Colombia boasts a rich complexity of ecosystems for biodiversity conservation.
Location
Colombia
Trees Delivered
7,000,000+
Beneficiaries
9,100
Hectares Covered
5,750
Interventions
Agroforestry
Overview
Over the last four decades, uncontrolled deforestation due to agricultural expansion in the Cauca and Nariño mountains resulted in fragmented forest patches with low ecological continuity and freshwater shortages during dry periods.
Coffee farms are set on steep slopes of land and are highly vulnerable to soil erosion, landslides, and the proliferation of pests and diseases favoured by a deregulated climate. Smallholder farmers lacked the knowledge on incorporating and reforesting diversified and endemic species. Biodiversity in pre-existing shade systems was limited to banana trees, Gravilea and Inga species.
Since 2014, PUR has been actively supporting Colombian smallholder coffee farmers by implementing agroforestry practices that rejuvenate their farms. Close to 7 million trees have been delivered across the country. Initially sustained by global actors from the coffee supply chain, we are now expanding our activities across the broader landscapes of Colombia.
PUR partners with Nespresso, and the Federación Nacional de Cafeteros de Colombia (FNC), who implement and source planting materials from local nurseries.
Our Impact in the Field
The Sounds of Regenerative Agriculture
At the heart of what we do are the voices of farmers. Listen to Rigoberto Diez, a coffee farmer, who shares his journey and the transformative power of agroforestry.
From Soil to Cup: Regenerative Coffee Farming in Colombia
Discover the daily life of Colombian coffee farmers Albeiro, Jacqueline, Rigoberto and Raquel.
Beyond Tree Planting
Increasing Farmers' Knowledge
Through strong technical support and good agricultural practices, projects are designed to increase farmers’ knowledge of agroforestry and restoration practices, revenue diversification and food security.
Local Communities
Tools are provided to farmers and local communities so that they feel empowered to carry forward with the practices implemented, ensuring climate change resilience through forest restoration.
Resilient Coffee
Converting sun-grown coffee to shade-grown coffee is fundamental in creating a more resilient coffee supply chain.
Farmer Motivation
Farmers understand the effects of climate change; direct sunshine affects coffee production and facilitates the development of pests and diseases.
They want to keep the integrity of their environment by protecting the steepest parcels, water streams and forests. By complementing existing landscapes and coffee parcels with hedgerows, degraded lands are restored with native forest species, and the quality and quantity of coffee are preserved.
Cauca y Nariño
Since 2014, the Cauca y Nariño project has supported small-holder coffee farmers in addressing climate change while combating land erosion and extreme climatic events. In the past, coffee-grown landscapes in the Colombian Cordilleras faced uncontrolled deforestation due to agricultural expansion, increasing temperatures, droughts and heavy rain.
The project’s implementation of agroforestry practices in coffee landscapes has been successful in the prevention of deforestation. Pests and diseases that affect coffee yields, biodiversity loss, reduced pollination and water resources are addressed while promoting climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Cauca Caficultura Forestal
The Cauca Caficultura Forestal project was created in 2018 to support smallholder farmers dealing with land erosion and extreme climate events. This project focuses on older coffee parcels in a mountainous area where watershed and coffee-grown landscapes have been threatened by uncontrolled deforestation due to agricultural expansion.
A key partner of this project is the FNC, Local Coffee Growers Committee of Cauca « Not one more hectare of coffee without shade. »
An extension of the Cauca y Nariño project, Cauca Caficultura Forestal consists of implementing agroforestry practices in coffee systems, addressing poor farming conditions, regular pests and diseases which affects coffee yields, biodiversity loss, reduced pollination and natural pest control and lack of water resources. Farmers are supported in climate change adaptation and resilience.
Xéridas
The Xéridas project was initiated in 2023 and aims to facilitate in the restoration of the regional ecological corridor of Yariguíes – Chicamocha – Santurbán, in the Santander department. The activities consist of implementing ecological restoration and assisted natural regeneration activities.
Environmentally, this project aims to contribute to restoring forest dynamics, enhancing biodiversity, reducing land erosion, adapting farms to the increasing frequency of extreme climate events, and improving water resources in terms of both quantity and quality.
In addition, the project places a strong emphasis on social aspects. Planting designs are developed in collaboration with communities of smallholder farmers to empower them to adopt more sustainable practices, mitigate yield loss and diversify their sources of income.
For 2024, the planting capacity of this project is 250,000 trees, and 2 million trees over 5 years.
Paisajes Rurales
The Paisajes Rurales project was initiated in 2023 and aims to facilitate the restoration of the regional ecological corridor in the Valle del Cauca department, an important coffee-producing region in the country.
The activities consist of implementing ecological restoration and assisted natural regeneration activities.
Environmentally, this project aims to contribute to restoring forest dynamics, enhancing biodiversity, reducing land erosion, adapting farms to the increasing frequency of extreme climate events, and improving water resources in terms of quantity and quality.
In addition, the project places a strong emphasis on social aspects. Planting designs are developed in collaboration with communities of smallholder farmers to empower them to adopt more sustainable practices, mitigate yield loss and diversify their sources of income.
For 2024, the estimated planting capacity of this project is 300,000 trees and plants, and 2 million trees over five years.
