As Colombia Pursues Peace, Nature Could be Powerful Bridge


Sep 30, 2016 | Molly Bergen
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On October 2, Colombian voters will vote on a historic peace deal between the government and rebels from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (known by their Spanish acronym FARC) that would formally end a 52-year armed conflict in the South American country.

How the country moves forward in a post-conflict era remains to be seen, but one of Colombia’s greatest assets offers a powerful route toward reconciliation: nature. Conservation International Colombia aims to contribute to the peace process by improving the relationship between people and nature — increasing access to nature, protecting precious natural resources and encouraging a unified Colombian pride in the spectacular biodiversity the country has to offer.