Protected Areas- Colombia

Cover photo credit: INVEMAR

Background

Colombia, a country with both Caribbean and Pacific coastlines, is committed to marine conservation for its intrinsic value and for the socio-economic benefits of the blue economy.Colombia is a member of the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (HAC) and the Global Partnership for Oceans, both of which aim to protect 30% of the world's oceans by 2030.

Colombia has already met this goal for its  marine component in 2025, and continues focusing on reinforcing the management of existing Protected Areas as well as creating new ones.

The PROCARIBE+ Project is supporting Colombia with their ambitious goals to enhance the protection of their coasts and marine environment in support of the development of a sustainable blue economy. 

PROCARIBE+ Interventions

The PROCARIBE+ Project will focus its work on marine conservation in Colombia on:

• Supporting the implementation of the Cordillera Beata Natural Reserve Management Plan: implementing elements of the management plan for this new protected area, covering approximately 3,312.55 km² of ocean space.
• Supporting the declaration process of a new Regional Protected Area, the "Punta San Bernardo y Chichimán - Rincón del Mar" Regional Protected Area in the Sucre department, covering approximately 527.74 km².
• Supporting the designation of a new Regional Protected Area in Varadero section of Cartagena Bay.
• Marine-coastal spatial planning exercise (MSP) of the Bay of Cartagena and adjacent areas, in an approximate area of 274 km², corresponding to the area that is part of the ecological restoration plan for the Bay (See the page on PROCARIBE+ interventions with a focus on marine spatial planning).

Key Activities

The United Nations Environment Programme’s (UNEP) Cartagena Convention Secretariat, the Colombian Marine and Coastal Research Institute (INVEMAR), the Regional Autonomous Corporation of Sucre (CARSUCRE) and the Regional Autonomous Corporation of the Dique Channel (CARDIQUE), the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Minambiente) and other partners will work together to implement the following activities to be supported under the Procaribe+:

• Declaration Process of New Protected Areas: Accompany the development of comprehensive proposals for PA designations, consulting community stakeholders and relevant authorities, gathering social and scientific data, and supporting the preparation of the designation submission package.
• Collaboration: Fostering collaboration between Colombia and the Dominican Republic for joint work in the areas involving the Beata Ridge.
• Community Engagement: Engaging local communities in the planning of the protected areas through consultations and participatory workshops.
• Raising awareness on the importance of the Protected Areas: Producing and disseminating information about the new Protected Areas to key stakeholders and the general public.

Expected Benefits

The PROCARIBE+ Project is expected to deliver a range of benefits in support of conservation efforts in Colombia, including:

• Improved Conservation of Marine Ecosystems: The project will contribute to the protection and conservation of important marine ecosystems, including coral reefs, seagrass beds, and mangroves.
• Sustainable Development: The project will contribute to the promoting sustainable development in coastal communities by supporting the development of a blue economy based on the area's marine/coastal natural capital.
• Community Empowerment: The project will work with local communities by engaging them in the planning process for the protected areas.
• Increased Awareness: The project will support promoting awareness about the importance of marine conservation and sustainable development.
• Promotion of regional collaboration: The project will strengthen collaboration between the Dominican Republic and Colombia through joint work on the areas involving the management of the Beata Ridge system.