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Ecotourism Can Lead to Community Building and Revitalization.

Gradient Ocean

Jeff Wolfanger

Sep 21, 2021

Colombia

Categories:

Environmental, Nature, Birds, Colombia, Philanthropy

Thanks to daring investments starting 14 years ago, a new, 250-hectares private nature reserve near Medellin -- dubbed “Manantiales” -- can be seen as a font of renewed hope and restoration following Colombia’s decades of violence and environmental destruction.


The genius, and driving force, behind Manantiales is a globe-trotting Colombian entrepreneur, bird-watching enthusiast, and nature photographer by the name of Leonel Giraldo. Giraldo, an Antioquia native (Antioquia is one of 32 Departments or States in Columbia), now lives in Bucaramanga, Colombia. But his numerous and extended family is native to the neighboring towns of Guatape and San Rafael, Antioquia.


Fourteen years ago, however, few would have had the audacity to launch such a bold undertaking in the violence-wracked regions of eastern Antioquia better known for its drug cartels in years past.


But in our interview, the 60-years-old Giraldo recounted to us a personal history -- and revealed typical character idiosyncrasies that “paisas” (the people of Antioquia and their neighbors) would describe as the essence of the local term, “un verraco.” A “verraco” is a person that is audacious and defiant in the face of obstacles.


As a result, thousands of the FARC’s (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, a guerilla group) former victims driven from their homes and farms in Antioquia and elsewhere have begun to return to restart their interrupted lives.


Massive private and public re-investment simultaneously is starting to restore lives, confidence, and futures in these former war-zone areas, especially in eastern Antioquia. Manantiales can be seen as an outstanding example of nature-oriented reinvestment that’s only starting to take root here.


This prompted Giraldo to start buying lots and small fincas in the area around what is now known as Manantiales – at relatively bargain prices, a result of the long history of violence in the area. His vision was rewarded, however, as this part of Antioquia has been completely cleared of FARC rebels thanks to military campaigns over the past 10 years.


While still active in the family business, Giraldo’s children have grown and taken over some company responsibilities. This allows him to dedicate more time and attention to the continuing development of Manantiales, to birdwatching and to bird photography, he explained.


With almost no advertising beyond a simple web site as well as a single-page ad in a bird-oriented calendar -- recently sold at a Sociedad Antioqueño de Ornitologia (SAO) ornithologists meeting -- Manantiales relies almost exclusively on word-of-mouth referrals for business, he said.


While most guests to date at Manantiales have been Colombians, international guests so far have included visitors from Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Curacao, Italy, Spain, North America, Chile, Mexico, and Cuba, he said.


So, what opportunities exist in your own backyard for encouraging partnership between ecological sustainability endeavors and community health and well-being programs? Aren’t they fundamentally interconnected? A small-scale environmental project to consider may include re-wilding long-forgotten vacant lots (or claiming a local piece of natural land) and increasing the biodiversity of it by planting with a diversity of local plants that will attract wildlife. It might be a small woodlot, an undevelopable slope of land, an abandoned property or a forgotten retention pond. Local environmental groups could join together with neighborhood groups to pool knowledge and labor and enlist children from nearby schools to observe, learn and assist.

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Catalog #:

0721.106.01.092121

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