​Peatlands are unique ecosystems formed by the accumulation of organic matter in water-saturated environments. Although they cover less than 3% of the Earth's surface, they store more carbon than all the world's forests combined and regulate water for millions of people.

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In Colombia, it is estimated that there are over 6 million hectares of peatlands, distributed across three major regions:

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• High-Andean peatlands in the paramos of the three mountain ranges.

• Morichales and cananguchales in the Amazon and Orinoco regions.

• Mangroves along the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

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These peatlands regulate the water of strategic rivers and supply entire cities. It is estimated that more than 17 million people in Colombia depend on water regulated by páramos and peatlands. Additionally, they contribute 53% of the country's hydroelectric potential and irrigate 173 agricultural districts.

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Our Project: Peatlands for the Future

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Peatlands for the Future, led by TECC, is the first youth-led initiative in Colombia dedicated to the restoration, conservation, and financing of peatlands. As part of our commitment to sustainable land management and nature-based solutions, we have achieved significant results to date:

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• Peatland restoration: 4 hectares restored in the Almorzadero Paramo (Wilches Reserve).

• Environmental policy: We successfully lobbied for the inclusion of peatlands in the Colombian Technical Standard NTC 6766 on water security, a crucial step for the restoration and conservation of degraded ecosystems at a national level.

• Global impact: Our participation in international events like the COP16 on Biodiversity, the COP16 on Desertification, the UNESCO Water Youth Dialogue, and the Restoration Stewards Program (GLF) positions us as a leader in carbon and ecosystem monitoring and research on a global scale.

 

Our Future Vision: Scaling Our Impact

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Our vision is to scale this model to 200,000 hectares, starting in the paramos of Santander and Tolima, and then expanding to Amazonian morichales and coastal mangroves. We achieve this through an innovative financial model based on carbon and biodiversity credits, ensuring that local communities improve their quality of life while restoring and protecting these vital ecosystems. The analysis of peatland carbon is fundamental to our climate change mitigation strategy and for demonstrating the ecological value of our work.