National Natural Parks of Colombia

National Natural Parks of Colombia established 1960 is a unit with administrative and financial autonomy. It manages the protected areas of the National Natural Parks System (SPNN) and coordinates the National System of Protected Areas (SINAP). Its mission is to conserve Colombia’s biological and cultural diversity, promote sustainable development, and ensure a healthy environment. It implements policies and programs for the protection and sustainable use of natural resources and fosters inter-institutional collaboration to ensure the preservation of national parks and the well-being of future generations.

Conservation Agreements

* This topic is related to COP16 goals 3,15,19 and 22.

National Natural Parks of Colombia develops conservation agreements with vulnerable rural communities in 36 of the 61 protected areas of the System. These agreements improve the conservation of the areas and the living conditions of the peasant communities through activities such as ecological restoration, ecotourism, environmental education, research, and monitoring.

National Register of Protected Areas (RUNAP)

* This topic is related to COP16 goals 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,11,19 and 22.

As the coordinator of SINAP and the administrator of RUNAP, National Natural Parks of Colombia obtained certification from DANE (National Administrative Department of Statistics in Colombia) for the statistical operation of protected areas of SINAP registered in RUNAP. This certification ensures the dissemination of timely, relevant, and reliable information about Colombia’s protected areas, thanks to collaboration with environmental authorities.

Success story

Research

Community Monitoring of the Charapa Turtle in National Nature Park (PNN) Cahuinarí: A Comprehensive Marine and Terrestrial Conservation Effort

The charapa turtle (P.expansa), critically endangered, is a sacred species for the Bora-Miraña indigenous people and a conservation priority in National Nature Park Cahuinarí that is located in the Amazonas Department of Colombia. Since 2014, community monitoring has been conducted with over 100 indigenous families, guiding conservation actions, organizing the community, and strengthening governance in the territory.

Strategic Partnership

European Union
Sectoral Budget Support “Sustainable Local Development for Peace in Colombia” – AP DLS phases I and II
2016 – 2021
26,111 hectares under conservation, 727 conservation agreements, 23 sustainable enterprises in protected areas managed by PNN.

Global Environment Facility (GEF)
GEF-SINAP
2017 – 2022
Consolidation of SINAP’s management and planning, creation of 6.4 million hectares of public protected areas, 10,700 hectares of private protected areas.

Awards and Recognitions

DANE Certification (2020): For the statistical operation “Protected Areas of SINAP Registered in RUNAP” (NTC PE 1000:2020), ensuring timely, relevant, and reliable information about Colombia’s protected areas.