Photographer: Oswaldo Cortés
History
This website is one of the products generated by the orchids project 109595 funded by Minciencias and executed by Icesi University between 2025-2026 “Education in birdwatching tourism in rural areas of the Los Farallones de Cali national natural park, an economic alternative to illegal mining” whose objective was to train, design and promote together with the local community birdwatching routes in order to provide an economic alternative to illegal mining.
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Learn more about the project at
YOUTUBE
This project was carried out in three stages: First, we trained the community in topics such as association building, tourism product design, birdwatching, and social media management for advertising. Second, we gathered baseline information on existing businesses, logistical capacity, species of interest, and services available in the area, and based on this, we developed route options. Third, in conjunction with the community, we designed three route options, as well as an advertising and outreach strategy that included: four billboards installed throughout the area, a digital brochure with information about the routes, a drone video, a YouTube channel, a mural, and this website, which aims to promote and attract birdwatching tourism to the area. We also participated in several academic and non-academic outreach events, such as the XIII Birdwatching Congress, the VIII Ornithology Congress, and the XII Colombia BirdFair.
As a result, we were able to train around 60 people in birdwatching and bird tourism, we were able to publicize the proposed route to at least 100 people including entities and community, we donated binocular equipment and field guides to promote community association.
This project demonstrates that nature tourism is a very attractive economic alternative for local communities, who consistently showed interest in participating in workshops and training sessions. Furthermore, we highlight the importance of working collaboratively with the communities to develop the route options, as this fostered community ownership of the project.
Why the Los Farallones de Cali National Natural Park?
The Farallones de Cali National Natural Park is one of the oldest and largest protected areas in southwestern Colombia. It boasts a rich biodiversity and provides countless ecosystem services to the surrounding communities. However, it is also a site of significant environmental and social conflict due to decades of illegal gold mining. This conflict has led to the destruction and pollution of the park, and the measures taken so far by national and local authorities have not been entirely effective. Therefore, with the aim of promoting the transformation of the local economy towards bio-based services, fostering the protection and responsible use of natural resources, and contributing to improving the quality of life of the local population, three birdwatching routes were designed and implemented in the buffer zone of the Farallones de Cali National Natural Park, between the townships of La Leonera, Pichindé, and Los Andes in the municipality of Santiago de Cali.