World Day of Social Justice: a look back at the Union Natural project in Colombia's Pacific region
published on 20 February 2025
ONF Andina / FFEM
On the occasion of World Day of Social Justice, we would like to share one of the flagship projects supported by the French Global Environment Facility (FFEM). Since 2018, the FFEM has been supporting the socio-economic development of Colombia’s Pacific region through the Unión Natural project—an ambitious initiative that aims to preserve forest ecosystems and combat deforestation while improving the living conditions of local communities. During our teams' visit in 2024, major advances in terms of community inclusion and the resonance of the innovative model were shared.
The Colombian Pacific region, home to exceptional ecological richness, spans more than five million hectares of biodiversity-rich forests. This area is primarily inhabited by Afro-descendant communities, who, despite the wealth of their natural environment, face persistent poverty and increasing insecurity. These challenges are further exacerbated by the presence of drug trafficking networks, which further undermine the local social and economic fabric.
In the face of these challenges, Unión Natural works to structure and strengthen the governance of the timber trade, a key part of the local economy, with the goal of creating a sustainable enterprise that will serve as a vehicle for prosperity and stability. By providing local inhabitants, including women and indigenous populations, with the tools and skills needed for responsible resource management, the project fosters the social and economic inclusion of these marginalized communities.
Led by Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development, the project was deployed in two pilot areas: the Arenal/Vigía del Fuerte sector in Antioquia and the Buey and Tagachí rivers in Chocó.
Last August, as the initiative reached its final phase, FFEM teams visited Quibdó to meet with field actors and assess the progress made. These exchanges with key partners, such as the Greater Community Council of the Integral Peasant Association of the Atrato (COCOMACIA) and local authorities, highlighted promising and forward-looking results.
Six years after its launch, the Unión Natural project has successfully addressed the needs of local communities by combining sustainability, inclusion, and economic viability.
Its success has resonated far beyond the beneficiary communities, inspiring other initiatives in the region. Some of the major achievements of Unión Natural include:
- The establishment of an efficient, low environmental impact forestry business model, which is already being replicated in other territories.
- The socio-economic integration of local populations, with a special focus on women and indigenous peoples, providing legal and inclusive alternatives to dominant illicit circuits.
- The optimization of wood trade management and profitability through innovative methods: a 500% improvement in extraction efficiency and a 70% increase in profitability.
- Its influence on national policies regarding sustainable forest management: in 2018, the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development recognized the forest compensation model developed by the project as a benchmark, particularly due to its economic profitability.
- The push for Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, reflecting the exemplary nature of the management model put in place.
It was highly rewarding to see that this project is concretely addressing territorial development goals, and that the Chocó governance is considering expanding sustainable forestry practices in the region as a development axis, building on the experience gained through the Unión Natural project. The results of this pilot project are significant, with the creation of a community-based forestry enterprise focused on sustainability, as 50% of FSC criteria are already being met !
,explains Xavier Debade, the project representative for FFEM.
Despite the challenges, particularly related to security conditions and geographical constraints, significant progress has been made. To ensure the long-term autonomy of local communities, it remains essential to further strengthen the skills and capacities of the organizations involved.
Through a holistic and committed approach, Unión Natural embodies the hope for a future where human development and environmental preservation harmonize for the benefit of future generations. Following the success of this project, a reflection on potential capitalization is currently underway, in line with FFEM's strategic mission, which aims to share the lessons learned and best practices of supported projects to guide public policies towards sustainable approaches adapted to environmental challenges.
Since its creation, FFEM has supported over a hundred innovative projects focused on forest and agricultural land conservation. , Today, we continue to implement a holistic approach, combining conservation efforts with the promotion of sustainable agricultural and forestry production methods.
Moreover, FFEM places a strong emphasis on recognizing the rights of local communities, prioritizing integrated and participatory approaches to sustainable forest land management while taking into account social values and underlying economic interests.
