UKUMARI Biopark

Main areas of CEPA work

‘El Semillero CROAC’ is an environmental education initiative run by Ukumarí Biopark that trains children from communities surrounding the park to become guardians of the wetlands. Through hands-on activities, participants learn about water, biodiversity and conservation, strengthening their connection to the local area.

It was established as an educational strategy to foster a sense of ownership and knowledge of the local area, aiming to raise awareness among children of the importance of wetlands, the environment and the care of the flora and fauna in our ecosystems, through playful, artistic and scientific workshops, thereby strengthening the link between children, the local area and conservation.

Three key achievements

During 2025, maintenance, restoration and monitoring activities were carried out across the 4.5 hectares of wetlands at the Ukumarí Biopark, aimed at strengthening their ecological functioning and preserving the environmental conditions of this strategic ecosystem. Activities included general refurbishment and maintenance of the area, the control and removal of invasive plant material, the cleaning and proper disposal of waste, as well as the removal of accumulated sediment that was affecting the natural dynamics of the wetlands. Similarly, restoration work was carried out by planting native species that promote ecological stability and help improve water quality. In addition, regular environmental monitoring activities are carried out, including physico-chemical and microbiological analyses of the water, as well as the monitoring of biological indicators and the identification of macroinvertebrates, enabling the assessment of the ecosystem’s condition and guiding the interventions necessary for its conservation. Taken together, these actions have helped to strengthen the ecosystem services provided by the Biopark’s wetlands, supporting processes such as water regulation, the retention and filtration of pollutants, the maintenance of biodiversity and the creation of habitats for various species of flora and fauna, thereby enhancing the ecological and functional efficiency of this important ecosystem.

The education department organised workshops, activities and games with the CROAC Youth Group focusing on the care of these ecosystems. During the workshops, particular emphasis was placed on the wildlife inhabiting the wetlands, and the children were also taught about the importance of looking after them, given that the area where they live borders the Ukumarí wetland complex.

As part of the educational work carried out on wetland protection, various organisations from the city joined in, enriching the process of social appropriation of knowledge. Among the partner organisations were SELVA, with whom bird-watching sessions were held and camera traps were installed to subsequently identify the wildlife associated with the ecosystem, and ‘Vivamos la Cuenca’, a project run by the Catholic University of Pereira in partnership with Aguas y Aguas, who facilitated workshops on modelling clay and other craft activities.

Three main challenges

One of the main challenges for the conservation and sustainability of the wetlands at Ukumarí Biopark is maintaining their ecological viability in the face of the impacts caused in the associated river basin, which constantly receives discharges of wastewater from neighbouring communities. This situation affects water quality and increases pressure on the ecosystem, making ongoing maintenance, monitoring and restoration work necessary to ensure the continued provision of the ecosystem services provided by the wetland.

For the CROAC nursery, the context of vulnerability and poverty in which the children live sometimes makes it difficult for them to attend the programme regularly; however, some have been consistent and have committed parents who take a responsible approach to their participation in the nursery.

To further strengthen, day by day, public ownership and awareness amongst different groups regarding the importance of wetlands and the ecosystem services they provide. Although conservation and restoration activities are being carried out, it is essential to promote ongoing environmental education programmes that bring about changes in the knowledge, attitudes and practices of local communities and visitors, encouraging greater participation in the protection of water resources and the conservation of the biodiversity associated with these ecosystems.