Wii Lov Seaflower

Mainstreaming biodiversity conservation in the tourism sector of the protected areas and strategic ecosystems of San Andres, Old Providence, and Santa Catalina islands

Want to know more about our Reserve?

Call for the selection of 6 initiatives

Results for the Selection of 6 Initiatives

Institutional Framework

Component 1

Sustainable management

Component 2

Biodiversity and local tourism

Component 3

Knowledge Management

Component 4

Who we are

The project “Mainstreaming Biodiversity Conservation into the Tourism Sector of Protected Areas and Strategic Ecosystems of San Andrés, Providencia, and Santa Catalina Islands” is an initiative funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), led by the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development of Colombia (MinAmbiente) and WWF as implementing agencies, with Conservation International and CORALINA as co-executing agencies.

The project’s strategic partners include the Government of the Archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina, the Municipality of Providencia and Santa Catalina, the Vice Ministry of Tourism, National Natural Parks of Colombia, and Awake Travel. This initiative is developed in close coordination with various local, institutional, and community stakeholders of the Archipelago. The project supports Colombia’s international commitments to integrate biodiversity conservation into key productive sectors, such as tourism.

Pod of dolphins swimming in turquoise water, seen from above

General objective of the project

To mainstream biodiversity conservation and green recovery in the tourism sector to maintain ecosystem health and the environmental goods and services provided by the Marine Protected Areas, the Protected Areas and the three islands of the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve.

Two terns perched on driftwood by the beach

Specific objectives

Strengthen the institutional, regulatory, and technical planning framework for tourism focused on biodiversity and the restoration of ecosystem services.
Implement measures to manage the impacts of tourism on key biodiversity within the Marine Protected Area (MPA), Protected Areas (PAs), and the three islands.
Integrate biodiversity conservation into the innovative development of local coastal and marine tourism in the Marine Protected Areas, Protected Areas, and across the three islands.
To strengthen monitoring and evaluation processes, promote awareness raising, and enhance knowledge management to support informed decision-making and sustainable tourism practices in the Archipelago.