Viviana Mourra Executive Director +57 320 542 4108 viviana.mourra@ecoprogreso.org www.ecoprogreso.org Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Cartagena de Indias, Colombia
Population: 1,000,000 Economy based on tourism, industry and ports.
60% of the country´s maritime commerce Best port of the Caribbean More than 2,500 industries 6% of national GDP
UNESCO World Heritage Site 1984 32,7% of the population live in poverty
Cartagena and Climate Change 
With a 2oC increase, sea level will rise 60cm by 2040 are of a 4 to 6 oC rise, with devastating consequences not only on sea level rise, but also with increased precipitation and droughts.
 Estimates
Cartagena and Urban Expansion
The city´s growth is characterized by the transformation of its natural landscape: coastal lagoons, mudflats, sand dunes, canals, beaches, and mangroves have all been transformed to give way to built infrastructure.
• Vulnerable population growth towards high risk areas, ecosystem margins. • Threat to environmental services: storm protection, erosion control, climate regulation, food security, sustainable local livelihoods (eco tourism)
Current urban dynamics undermine environment Informal settlements in areas of high risk from flooding
Mangrove destruction and conversion of wetland into new urban land
Informal settlements
Formal urbanization
Fundación Ecoprogreso
NGO created in 2008 in response to the environmental conflicts that currently threaten the existence of an important ecosystem, the mangrove lagoon known as Ciénaga Juan Polo.
Ciénaga Juan Polo
Cartagena
Biodiversity
Environmental services
Culture
Mission Work towards the restoration and conservation of the mangrove ecosystem through socially inclusive and participatory strategies that generate wellbeing for present and future generations.
Strategic Objectives Environmental Awareness • Increase awareness about the importance of the mangrove ecosystem in Cartagena, in the afro Colombian communities adjacent to the lagoon and the Cartagena population at large.
Environmental Protection • Support projects that encourage grassroots actions for the defense of the mangrove ecosystem. Public and Private Partnerships
• Establish partnerships with public and private entities to articulate actors around the restoration and conservation of the mangrove lagoon.
Achievements 2009-2014 Environmental Awareness
Mangrove curriculum
Environmental Awareness
Scouts Environmental Guardians: 90 youths of vulnerable communities, between the ages of 6 and 18
Environmental Awareness
Ecoprogreso´s youth groups from La Boquilla, Marlinda, Villa Gloria and Manzanillo del Mar, participate in ecosystem monitoring. World Mangrove Day 2014.
Environmental Awareness
Participate in the Neotropical Water Bird Census since 2013, held in february and july, with the support of Asociaci贸n Calidris
Environmental Awareness
Migration Festival celebrated in 6 communities with the support of Asociaci贸n Calidris and the Copper River Migratory Bird Initiative. Activities were lead by Ecoprogreso麓s youth groups.
Murals
Documentary discussions
Games
Environmental Awareness: Earth Day
Environmental Awareness: National Climate Change Day
Achievements 2009-2014 Environmental Protection
Consolidated community group for environmental defense: Afro descendent Environmental Corporation of La Boquilla – CORPAMBO
Community monitoring initiatives
Neotropical Water Bird Census Ciénaga de la Virgen Biobliz
Guía de Aves Acuáticas de la Ciénaga de la Virgen y de Juan Polo.
Mangrove clean ups and awareness raising campaigns with neighbors
Achievements 2009-2014 Alliances with private and public entities
Research
Casos Emblemáticos Ciénaga de la Virgen: Análisis de Cinco Casos Fallidos por la Defensa del Ecosistema de Manglar (Restrepo S., Pineda J., Vergara R. 2014) http://bit.ly/casosiconicos Bioconteo Ciénaga de la Virgen: Monitoreo Participativo de Biodiversidad (2014) http://bit.ly/bioconteo2014 Diagnóstico Participativo de Usos de los Recursos Naturales del Ecosistema de Manglar en la Ciénaga de la Virgen y de Juan Polo (Geiszler, D. 2014) http://bit.ly/diagnostico_recursos_cienaga Parque Biocultural Ciénaga Juan Polo: Proceso de Pensamiento, Planeación y Construcción Participativa en el marco de la Protección y Conservación de la Ciénaga Juan Polo (Comba Internacional, 2010). http://bit.ly/comba_parquebiocultural
2015-2020 Environmental Community Groups: Activate Tierra Baja group –Community Council and Fundación Serena del Mar Strengthen groups in Manzanillo del Mar and La Boquilla. Formalize monitoring and surveillance initiative (Bioblitz, NWBC). Built virtual platform. Establish alliances with enforcement entities responsible for protecting coastal marine resources.
2015-2020
Bio Cultural Park Ciénaga Juan Polo
Touristic circuit of afrocolombian heritage: development of diferentiated products resilient to climate change and development impacts Manzanillo del Mar: beaches, gastronomy La Boquilla: beaches, gastronomy, culture, birdwatching Tierra Baja: Culture (african heritage theme park, festivals, cultural house) Puerto Rey: Agrotourismo, birdwatching,
Centralized
Standards
marketing & Sustainability
2015-2020 Ecosystem–based Adaptation to Climate Change Cartagena de Indias Competitive and Compatible with Climate – Plan 4 C • 1st city in Colombia to have developed a long term vision where climate change will be an opportunity for its development. • Place Cartagena as leader in Latin America on showing how to make development compatible with climate change