Growing Forests, Growing Community: Local Families Join Forces to Build the Mega Corridor
As part of our expanding efforts to create a connected landscape for cotton-top tamarins, 32 farming families from the communities of Jorro, Pajarito, and Charco Azul have taken a remarkable step: they’ve voluntarily set aside portions of their land for forest recovery. This collaboration is a powerful demonstration of how conservation and community well-being can grow together. These restoration efforts benefit not only the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin and other native wildlife, but also the farmers themselves. Through Proyecto Tití’s adult education program, “Tití Guardianes”, participants have learned about the vital ecosystem services forests provide—from improving soil and water availability to boosting crop health and supporting long-term livelihoods.
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Over the past several months, our team has been working closely with these families to understand their needs and identify ways to support sustainable agriculture alongside forest restoration. During these meetings, many of the farmers' wives actively joined the discussions—and brought forward an inspiring idea: to launch community-run tree nurseries, modeled after our successful nursery in the Los Titíes de San Juan Forest Reserve.
These women have formed a new group—the Guardianas del Tití—and are now leading an initiative where each family will propagate native tree species to be planted in the restored forest areas. Their training has already begun! Guided by our restoration team, they are learning how to collect seeds, nurture seedlings, and care for young trees until they are ready to be planted. Once restoration planting begins next year, Proyecto Tití will purchase the trees grown in these nurseries, providing a sustainable source of income and reinforcing the community’s role as environmental stewards.
This initiative is a cornerstone of our mega corridor vision, which seeks to reconnect forest fragments across Bolívar and Sucre and ensure a thriving future for both wildlife and people. Every step we take with these families proves a lasting truth: when we invest in communities, we build a stronger foundation for conservation. By linking forests, sharing knowledge, and empowering local leadership, we are safeguarding Colombia’s natural heritage—and creating a future where cotton-top tamarins and the people who protect them can flourish together.