“Río Saldaña, una cuenca de vida”, led by Grupo Argos Foundation and national and international partners, was recognized for its contribution to the protection of environmental heritage

• The Presidential Agency of International Cooperation of Colombia (APC Colombia) recognized Grupo Argos Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), Cementos Argos, Celsia, Cortolima and National Natural Parks of Colombia for their leadership in protecting the watershed.
• “Río Saldaña, una cuenca de vida” has impacted 9,126 hectares through restoration, conservation, sustainable production and citizen science activities, has established 95 voluntary conservation agreements and has contributed more than 900 records to the Colombian Biological Information System, SIB.
• Since 2019, Grupo Argos Foundation together with WCS has led this partnership, which seeks to protect and restore the Río Saldaña watershed that supplies approximately 46% of the inhabitants of Tolima.

As part of the event Alianzas con Resultados 2025 (Alliances with Results 2025), the Presidential Agency of International Cooperation of Colombia, APC Colombia, recognized Grupo Argos Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society, Cementos Argos, Celsia, Cortolima and National Natural Parks of Colombia for the positive impact they have achieved through the “Río Saldaña, una cuenca de vida” program, which brings together international cooperation, scientific knowledge and community participation to protect biodiversity and promote sustainable development in Tolima.

Since it began in 2019, the alliance has impacted 9,126 hectares through conservation, restoration, sustainable production and citizen science activities, has consolidated 95 voluntary conservation agreements with landowners, and has strengthened knowledge of the territory with 925 biodiversity records in the SIB. These results have been achieved together with communities, environmental authorities and technical partners.

As part of the ecological restoration efforts, 54,772 native trees have been planted, with an emphasis on species classified as threatened, such as the wax palm and black walnut, which contribute to the connectivity of strategic ecosystems and carbon capture. In addition, 17 Civil Society Nature Reserves have been declared, boosting private conservation and the protection of key habitats.

“Receiving this recognition from APC Colombia is an honor that celebrates the power of partnerships when they are built from the conviction to care for life. Together with the promoters of the program and other private partners, we have woven a collective effort that protects one of Tolima’s most valuable natural assets: the Río Saldaña and the ecosystems that sustain the wellbeing of thousands of families. This achievement reflects the strength of a shared vision in which conservation is an opportunity to transform realities and open pathways to sustainability.”

María Camila Villegas
Executive Director, Grupo Argos Foundation

This recognition also highlighted the strategic contribution of the cooperation project financed by the Franklinia Foundation of Switzerland, focused on conserving the habitat of the black walnut (Juglans neotropica) and other threatened tree species in Colombia and around the world. For this project, APC Colombia contributed resources from the National Matching Funds Mechanism, which helped expand the scope of restoration activities and strengthen local conservation capacities.

Alianzas con Resultados is a space for dialogue between donors and the National Government to share an overview of the main achievements and challenges of international cooperation throughout the year.