Project Peace with Nature, Empowering Former Colombian Guerrilla Fighters, Social Leaders, and Victims of the Conflict to Protect Biodiversity and Promote Environmental Peacebuilding (IN SPANISH)

Date & Time
Jun 9, 2026 | 15.00 - 16.30

Link
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_a1rTl_LLTNejAFxxAOIyWw

Participants
Jaime Gongora, University of Sydney (Australia)
Peace with Nature (Colombia)
Jolvi Padilla, Colombian Agencia for the Reincorporation and Normalisation (Colombia)

This presentation and roundtable will highlight how the Peace with Nature initiative exemplifies environmental peacebuilding by engaging former guerrilla fighters (excombatants) and conflict affected communities as guardians of biodiversity. Operating since 2016 in Colombia’s post conflict regions, the project Peace with Nature has trained over 950 participants in biodiversity documentation and protection, ecotourism, sustainable resource management and collaborative governance. Participants have recorded more than 1,000 species, developed 20 illustrated guides and 40 nature-based products, and strengthened 16 local enterprises through workshops, ecotourism ventures, and job creation. The co-creation of the bottom-up Environmental Strategy for Reincorporation and Reconciliation consolidates these outcomes into a nationally relevant framework for long term, community led peacebuilding.

Presentation methodology:

Professor Jaime Gongora lead of the Peace with Nature initiative will give a presentation (30min) on the conceptual and methodological framework, activities, outputs and outcomes of this project. This will be followed by a roundtable discussion (45min) with the participation of representatives of the Colombian government Agency for the Reincorporation and Normalisation, beneficiaries of the project (a social leader and a former guerrilla fighter) and project team members. Participants will share their perspectives on the project and what steps are required to sustain the positive impact of Peace with Nature. Public participation will through a Q&A session (15min).

Date: Virtual Day (June 9) from 3:00 - 4:30 pm EST.

Language: in Spanish.

Translation to English is required for non-Spanish Speakers in the virtual audience.