COLOMBIA
Colombia’s extensive coral reefs include the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, one of the largest marine protected areas in the Caribbean.
Priority Locations
- San Andrés Island
- Old Providence (Providencia) and Santa Catalina Islands
- The cays of Serrana, Roncador, Quitasueño, Serranilla, Bajo Nuevo, Bolívar, Albuquerque
Partners
Convening Agent: Fondo para la Acción Ambiental y la Niñez (Fondo Acción)
Key Implementing Partners: Fundación ProSeaLand, Corporación para el Desarrollo Sostenible del Archipiélago de San Andrés (CORALINA), McBean Lagoon National Park
2030 Targets
232K HA
Coral reefs under conservation and sustainable management target
$16M
Private investment, returns & co-financing leverage target
65K+
Community members benefiting from improved resilience, sustainable livelihoods, and increased income target
Overview
The Fi Wi Riif Programme aims to protect and recover the health of resilient coral reef sites in Colombia’s Seaflower Biosphere Reserve, improve the livelihoods and the coastal protection of reef-dependent communities severely impacted by the category 5 Hurricane Iota that hit the islands in 2020, and research innovative approaches to reefs health and restoration technologies. This involves engaging with the public and private sectors to establish a local governance and financial sustainability strategy and to create enabling legislative conditions. The programme will also engage with the islands' economy by supporting local enterprises and the creation of alternative livelihoods, supporting terrestrial and coastal for-profit initiatives that reduce the negative impact of the islands on the reefs. Additionally, the programme will support active coral reef management, reinforce the function and financial sustainability of MPAs, improve fisheries sustainability, recover herbivorous populations, remove and use excess algae and seagrasses, and restore corals.
