What is a Natural Reserve of the Civil Society?
As established by Decree 1996 of 1999, a Natural Reserve of the Civil Society is defined as “a part or the entirety of an area of land that conserves a sample of a natural ecosystem and is managed under the principles of sustainability in the use of natural resources. By the owner’s will, it is designated for sustainable use, preservation, or restoration with a long-term commitment.”* In this process, the owner retains the right to maintain the area as private property and must prepare a management plan, which must be submitted and justified to the Ministry of Environment and Colombia's National Natural Parks.
In Colombia, the creation of Natural Reserves of the Civil Society (NRCS) has paved the way for active citizen participation in territorial conservation. Through collaboration between communities, governmental organizations, NGOs, and the private and public sectors, ecosystems once impacted by activities such as hunting, logging, illegal wildlife capture, unsustainable agriculture, and deforestation have been protected.
Thanks to this collective effort, many of these areas have been restored or are undergoing ecological recovery, contributing to environmental balance and the preservation of biodiversity across the country.
By Resolution 270, issued on December 29, 2022, Las Marías Natural Reserve of the Civil Society was officially registered by the Ministry of Environment and Colombia's National Natural Parks.
*Learn more about the registration process for natural reserves of the civil society by the National Natural Parks of Colombia
“The Las Marías National Reserve presents an example of an Andean ecosystem, which has been one of the most affected by the growth of the agricultural frontier at a national level. Likewise, the initiative of the owners to conserve and plant native species such as the Colombian pine, favors the protection of the soil from erosion phenomena, promotes the fixation of greenhouse gases. It also facilitates structural and functional connectivity processes for local wildlife and allows the maintenance of ecosystem services such as water and microclimate regulation.”
Ministry of Environment and National Natural Parks of Colombia
Resolution 270
Conservation goal
Contribute to the conservation of the natural ecosystem sample of very humid premontane forest, which allows ecological and connectivity processes to preserve biological diversity in the Las Marías Natural Reserve.
Sustainability goal
Create experiences that promote the conservation of the natural ecosystem, foster environmental awareness and cultivate a deep love for nature.
Demonstrating through educational alliance actions or through the promotion of responsible tourism, the ability to become an ally in the protection of the planet.
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Symbols of the logo that highlight the most relevant and endemic actors of the reserve:
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Colombian Pine or Romerón Pine
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Cyathea frigida
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Owl
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Hummingbird
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Toucanet
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Armadillo
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Butterfly
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Yellow-backed Oriole
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Coffee
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Andean mountains and waterfalls
Romerón Pine: The Muiscas called it “king of the cloud forests” due to its large size and unparalleled beauty.
The Romerón Pine, Colombia's only endemic pine, has long been one of the country's most valued timber trees. However, its beauty and utility have brought it to the brink of extinction due to over-logging nationwide. In the Las Marías Natural Reserve, we have planted around 400 Romerón pines, contributing to the protection and conservation of this unique species.