Tropenbos Colombia works towards the sustainable management, preservation and restoration of the Solano landscape with special attention to cultural, social and economic aspects of indigenous groups, peasants, women and youth.
The landscape is located near the municipality of Solano, in the southern department of Caquetá, Colombia. The area has one of the highest deforestation rates in the country and it is expected to continue rising. Initially, deforestation took place for the establishment of illicit coca crops but now the forest is converted into pastures mainly for cattle ranching. This process has transformed the vegetation cover, creating a mosaic of forests and open areas.
The guerrilla that dominated this area had imposed environmental rules that controlled deforestation and promoted the protection of water sources. But since the signing of the peace agreement when the guerrilla became demobilized, deforestation has been increasing in part due to the little control the state has over the area.
The Solano landscape functions as an ecological corridor of two large National Parks, Chiribiquete and La Paya, which occupy more than 5 million hectares. And is home for different actors with different types of land tenure: indigenous resguardos with collective property titles, peasants’ private lands and state forest lands.