Columbia: Restoring Forests for the People of Chocó

Project Profile

Total project need: $53,467

Local Project Leader: Catalina Cock Duque

Project Sponsor: Ashoka Innovators for the Public

Theme: Environment

Donation Options:
$10 - Plants 5 trees in the tropical rain forest of Chocó.
$240 - Insurance coverage for 500 Rickshaw Pullers.
$445 - Trains 30 community members in entrepreneurship.
Other Amount? Send a check to: Sustainable Travel International, 2885 May Street, Hood River, OR 97031

Project Needs and Beneficiaries

The Chocó region is a world biodiversity hotspot that has suffered from excessive and uncontrolled exploitation of its natural resources. This has caused the loss of biodiversity and the impoverishment of Afro-Colombian communities through income loss and food insecurity. Analogue Forestry involves local communities in the restoration of ecosystems, creating food security as well as economic benefits for their families.

Activities

Participatory planning and mapping to diagnose ecosystems; Build nurseries and collect seeds; Planting in response to social, economic and ecological conditions; Demonstration areas and seed banks for communities; Market research to ensure sale.

Potential Long Term Impact

Sustainable management of collective lands; Increased biodiversity; Land management plans implemented by local communities; Increased food security and health. Income generation through commercialization of analogue forestry products.

Project Message

"Forests are our saving boxes." - Aristarco Mosquera, Local Coordinator

Organization - Fundación Amigos del Chocó - Amichocó

Mission

The foundation Amigos del Chocó fosters sustainable development and improvement of life quality of the Chocó population by implementing environmental, social and productive projects and linking management with local and international community.

Programs

1. Certified Green Gold sponsors fair trade practices and the observance of 10 mining certification criteria as a guarantee of socially and environmentally responsible artisanal and small-scale mining. 2. Childhood and Healthy Environments trains families, teachers and leaders in stimulation and problem solving for the development of children. 3. A Tree for Peace: We join this global campaign promoted by Ashoka with workshops and tree planting act to foster citizenship among 500 children.

Team Bios

Catalina Cock Duque - Director: Catalina is a Colombian sociologist and political scientist (Maryland University) with an MSc in Politics and Social Planning (London School of Economics). She is the Co- Founder and current Director of Amichocó and General Coordinator of the Green Gold Initiative. As a young social entrepreneur and Ashoka fellow, she seeks to empower Afrocolombian communities for positive social change.

Paulo Cesar Daza - Forestry Engineer: Paulo is a passionate forestry engineer convinced of the need of integrating local community knowledge to scientific processes. He sees analogue forestry as a balanced way to combine conservation and use of natural resources.

Aristarco Mosquera - Local Coordinator: Aristarco is an incredibly committed and skillful community leader who has devoted his life to work for the rights and development of Afrocolombian communities. He plays a key role in planning and execution of development programs and is talented in lobbying with local governments.

Statistics

Catalina Cock Duque,
Director
Founded in 1997
Employees: 7
Volunteers: 30

Contact

Catalina Cock Duque,
Director
Cra 35 No 7-80 Piso 2
Medellín, Antioquia
Colombia
Phone (574) 3521638
Email ccock@epm.net.co
Web www.amichoco.org

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