Reserve Integral Sasardí Photos
Summary and Background of the Darién Foundation
Background:
On February 25th 1993, the Darién Foundation obtained its legal status from the local government of Chocó, Colombia as an environmental NGO. However, previous to 
this, the group had been present in the region for approximately 15 years and had been primarily working in education on an informal basis. Exchange of knowledge and experiences with the community has always been a central focus of the work in environmental issues that urgently concern the region and its local population. Some of the Organization's proposals for the preservation of the biodiversity have been considered by the national authorities and have become part of the Conservation Strategy for the Darién Region which was established as a Protected Area of Special Management in December 1996.
Location:
The Sasardí Integrated Reserve (RIS) is one hour's walk from Triganá Bay in the Urabá Gulf in Acandí County, Chocó. The approximate size of the Natural Reserve is 140 hectares. A big part of this land has been donated to the organization by various supporting groups who wanted to collaborate in the preservation of the Rainforest. Both primary and secondary forests can be found within the reserve. These different ecosystems provide useful knowledge that can be shared and exchanged with the local population. The RIS is a founding member of the National Network of Natural Reserves of the Civil Society in Colombia, a widely respected NGO on a national scale.
Activities accomplished:
Before the formal constitution of the Darién Foundation, activities involved environmental education, manufacturing of handicrafts, recycling of wastes and establishment of good relations with the local communities were a central part of an holistic approach attempting to promote and protect the local environment.
Activities and events that have taken place and have received interest locally and regionally:
* First Meeting with the Friends of the Urabá Gulf, initiated to exchange experiences and facilitate joint actions at a bioregional level for environmental protection of the Gulf and its surroundings.
* Several gatherings of conservation activists to establish initiatives, share information and promote the natural reserves and their sustainable management.
* Protection program of the Leatherback Sea Turtle (Dermochelys coriacea). Activities promoting environmental education and respect of all living beings, and transfer of hatches and stockyard care of the eggs until the newborn sea turtles move to the sea. Further research regarding the life-cycle of the species has also been encouraged in collaboration with students from the University of Antioquia (ANECB, National Association of biology sciences students).
* Ethnobotanical studies promoting the recognition of useful plants and the value of traditional knowledge, and perpetuation of this knowledge through workshops with the community, and planting of trees and plants.
* Various workshops on sustainable production and appropriate technology, e.g.- biodigestors, composting toilets, compost, ecological agriculture with emphasis on plants' natural associations, agroforestry, etc.
* Dendrology course, classification and recognition of vegetative species of the rainforest.
* Establishment of the Regional Network of Natural Reserves UNGANDI in the Darién Chocoano with 21 Reserves.
* International Voluntary Working Camp at RIS with groups of foreign, environmental volunteers.
* Ecotourism Program with the participation of neighbors surrounding RIS.
* Handicrafts Workshops using material from the forest in a sustainable way, viewed as an alternative source of income.
* Environmental education at several local schools, but mainly with the school at Sardí, creating an integrated education and organizational process with the local community living in the areas surrounding RIS.
The organization has also participated in other seminars and important meetings such as:
* First National Congress of "Sustainable Development in Chocó Biogeographic Region"
* Chocó Present and Future Forum.
* VIII Congress of Indigenous groups of the Atrato River.
* Binational Indigenous Meeting Colombia-Panamá.
* Ecological Forum of the Urabá Chocoano.
* Legislation workshop on the new environmental law #99.
* Workshop on Environmental Priorities in the Darién Chocoano.
* I and II Workshops about the environmental situation in the Darién Chocoano.
* International Seminar of Wild Fauna and Sustainable Management.
* Forum about Alternatives to the opening of the Darién Gap.
* Use of tropical resources in animal feeding.
* Workshop on master planning of protected areas.
* Hosting the 2000 Annual Meeting of the Ecovillage Network of the Americas
The organization's members and its working team:
Among the members of the Darién Foundation, the professional disciplines represented are: biologist, teacher, sociologist, geographer, farmers, artisans, others. Common to the members is that they have opted for a different way of life at the Sasardí Integrated Reserve, building up a sustainable community in close relationship with nature. Technical assistance is provided by consultants - agronomists, animal husbandry technicians, foresters, economists, etc. - when needed. Some of the those participating in the projects have experience with other NGO's and have worked and lived in the region for several years.
Institutional Relations:
During the legal life of the organization, important relations have been established with the following organizations:
* The Biopacific Project (conservation of the biodiversity of the Chocó Biogeographic Region, dependent on the Ministry of Environment in collaboration with GEF-PNUD). Supported the Protection Program of the Leatherback Sea Turtle and the Ethnobotanical Study.
* The Ecofondo Corporation (body of more than 200 environmental NGO's and governmental institutions, which manage the resources of the "Counsel of the Americas Agreement" between USA/Canada and Colombia). Supported the "Preservation of Biodiversity through communal promotion in the Darién Chocoano" Project.
* The National Network of Natural Reserves of the Civil Society, with over 80 Reserves around the country; RIS is one the founding members.
* The Ministry of the Environment.
* Codechocó (Regional Corporation for the sustainable development of Chocó).
* Acandí County Administration. Participating at the County Planning Counsel for Development.
* ANECB, National Association of Biology Science Students at the University of Antioquia, Medellín.
* Cipav/Suna Hisca/WWF/Penca de Sábila and other NGO's working with Conservation Programs and sustainable alternatives.
The Darién Foundation maintains relations with various local groups and grassroots organizations, coordinating activities and actions together, in order to protect the natural resources and the native culture of the region, including:
* OREWA (Organization of Regional indigenous Embera-Waunana).
* CAMIZBA (Cabildo Major Indigenous in the zone of the low Atrato river).
* OIA (Indigenous organization of Antioquia).
* OCABA (Peasant organization of the low Atrato river).
* Comité Pro-tortuga of Acandí and the Ecological Association Ave Fenix (Locals groups participating in the protection of the leatherback sea turtle).
Some International Relations:
* Sun & Moon Organization (Norwegian Environment and Solidarity NGO working with Latin America). Supports RIS, center of experimentation project.
* International Civil Service (SCI-Italia) and SIW-Holland, organizing voluntary camps in order to create solidarity between people living different realities from various cultures, has participated in two working camps at RIS.
* Association Passeport Pluriel (NGO working with education in France), supporting the Elementary School at Sardí.
* Assteal (French NGO working with solidarity program with Latin America), supporting and strengthening the work of the Darién Foundation.
* GAIA Trust (Danish NGO working with sustainability and Ecovillages), supporting the RIS pilot center of experimentation project.
* Widecast, Network for the Protection of Sea Turtles of the Great Caribes.
* Ecovillage Network of the Americas (ENA) - Claudio Madaune, Director of RIS is the primary representative for Northern South America, on the Council of the Americas.
To contact the Darien Foundation, in Colombia, Northern South America:
Claudio Madaune, Director
A.A. 700 Turbo
Antioquia, COLOMBIA
Telephone: (57) 4 - 8243610
fundarien@edatel.net.co