Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Colombia

The Seykún community of the Arhuaco people has implemented a strategy of peaceful territorial recovery in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia, by purchasing land to protect sacred sites and restore ecosystems. Guided by the 'Ley de Origen' (Law of Origin), the community has achieved significant ecological regeneration, including a 63% increase in forest cover between 2010 and 2022. While the community is exploring international recognition frameworks such as TICCA (Territories and Areas Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities) and OECM (Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures), they maintain a cautious approach to ensure these mechanisms do not compromise their spiritual autonomy or indigenous leadership.

• The Seykún community employs a strategy of 'Comunidades Talanqueras,' which involves the peaceful recovery of ancestral lands in the lower and middle regions of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta through the strategic purchase of land from campesinos.
• Conservation in Seykún is driven by the 'Ley de Origen' (Law of Origin) and the 'Línea Negra' (Black Line), a spiritual and geographical system connecting over 300 sacred sites (sítumas) to maintain universal equilibrium.
• The community has achieved measurable ecological restoration; between 2010 and 2022, forest cover increased by 63%, and as of 2024, 83% of 1,000 prioritized hectares are under active regeneration.
• Seykún is currently a pilot case for the Arhuaco people in the process of self-recognition as a TICCA (Territory and Area Conserved by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities), exploring its compatibility with indigenous autonomy.
• The community faces significant external threats, including agricultural and livestock expansion, deforestation, illegal armed actors, and large-scale infrastructure and extractive projects such as mining.
• Governance in Seykún combines the spiritual authority of Mamos with formal political structures, such as the Cabildo Gobernador and organizations like AsoSeykún and the Confederación Indígena Tayrona (CIT).

APA

Castro, L. G., Matallana-Tobón, C. L., & Lobo, R. (2025). Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Colombia. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1815/Colombia_CS_Comunidad_Indigena_Seykun_Pueblo_Arhuaco.pdf

Chicago

Castro, Luis Guillermo, Clara L. Matallana-Tobón, and Rafaella Lobo. Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Colombia. WWF International, 2025. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1815/Colombia_CS_Comunidad_Indigena_Seykun_Pueblo_Arhuaco.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Castro |first1=Luis Guillermo |last2=Matallana-Tobón |first2=Clara L. |last3=Lobo |first3=Rafaella |title=Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Colombia |publisher=WWF International |date=December 2025 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1815/Colombia_CS_Comunidad_Indigena_Seykun_Pueblo_Arhuaco.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{castro2025del, author = {Castro, Luis Guillermo and Matallana-Tobón, Clara L. and Lobo, Rafaella}, title = {{Del Potencial a la Acción: OMEC y Conservación Inclusiva en Colombia}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2025}, month = dec, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/1815/Colombia_CS_Comunidad_Indigena_Seykun_Pueblo_Arhuaco.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }