From the Paramos to Riyadh: How Colombia's High-Andean Peatlands Lead the Restoration Economy

The 16th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP16) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, was the global stage where the world recognized the economic potential of Ecological Restoration. For The Ecosystem Carbon Conservation (TECC), this event was a crucial opportunity to showcase the voice and expertise of Colombia’s high-mountain ecosystems.

Our Co-founder and COO, Manuel Olmos, represented TECC, actively engaging in forums focused on the Restoration Economy and private capital mobilization.

High-Andean Peatlands: The Silent Carbon Superhero

Our focus at TECC has always been on High-Andean Peatlands, those vital wetlands in our paramos that store more carbon than most tropical forests combined. In Riyadh, Manuel Olmos highlighted why these ecosystems are fundamental for water security and climate change mitigation in the Andean region.

In the context of global desertification and land degradation, peatlands are recognized as one of the planet's most powerful, multi-functional Nature-Based Solutions (NbS). As emphasized by the IUCN Peatlands Programme, their ecological value is tripartite: they function as critical water regulators—retaining moisture and supplying clean water to millions; they serve as vital biodiversity hotspots, supporting unique flora and fauna; and crucially, their unique function is their exceptional long-term carbon storage capacity. This capacity, which far exceeds that of most forests, stems from the waterlogged, anoxic environment they create, preserving centuries of organic matter. Manuel showcased our progress in the Almorzadero Paramo, demonstrating that comprehensive restoration, which addresses these multiple benefits, can be both rapid and effective when cutting-edge science is combined with ancestral knowledge.

The Scaling Challenge: Integrating Climate Finance and Communities

One of the central discussions at COP16 was how to transform restoration into a scalable, global Restoration Economy—a topic that Manuel Olmos addressed directly in his intervention.

At TECC, we are evolving traditional conservation business models by strategically combining income streams. This hybrid model allows us to sustain and enhance our peatland restoration efforts. Manuel presented our operational framework, which integrates:

1) Advanced Scientific Monitoring: Utilizing GIS and greenhouse gas flux monitoring, alongside precise Soil Organic Carbon (SOC) metrics, to accurately quantify our impact on carbon capture and overall ecosystem health.

2) Innovative Climate Finance: We are focused on creating long-term financing models. This includes the integration of peatlands and High-Andean ecosystems into various voluntary carbon and biodiversity markets, creating opportunities in the Colombian water footprint compensation market, and leveraging strategic grants, such as the support from the GLF Restoration Stewardship (CIFOR) and the YECO Accelerator Program 2024 (supported by the G20 Global Land Initiative), to accelerate and scale our initiatives.

3) Inclusive Community Management: We work hand-in-hand with local communities, turning them into partners and stewards of the restoration, which ensures the project’s social sustainability.

The key message championed by Manuel Olmos in Riyadh was clear: achieving the goals of the G20 Global Land Initiative requires mobilizing private capital through financial instruments that directly reward Ecological Restoration and sustainably empower the communities who live on the land.

Looking Ahead to the Future of Restoration

Our participation in UNCCD COP16 reaffirmed that the TECC model is a replicable case study. The Nature-Based Solutions in the Colombian Andes are relevant to degraded ecosystems worldwide.

We return to Colombia with an expanded vision, ready to apply the partnerships and knowledge acquired to scale our Peatlands for the Future project and continue positioning Andean communities as global leaders in the Restoration Economy. The Restoration Economy is Here: Invest in Nature's Solutions to Fund Global Climate Resilience and Community Empowerment.

Our Cofounder and COO Manuel Olmos representing TECC in the UNCCD COP 16 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.