The cauca valley landscape is located between in the southwest of colombia between the western and the central andes

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service awarded a $201,555 Project Grant under the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Program (CFDA 15.640) to the National Audubon Society, Inc. The goal of this 2-year award, starting December 1, 2024, is to promote biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices in the Cauca Valley region of Colombia. Key activities include:

1. Establishing a regional working group to co-create a toolkit detailing nature-based solutions and biodiversity-friendly agricultural practices for the region.
2. Supporting a network of demonstration farms implementing the featured practices.
3. Facilitating knowledge exchange and assessing attitudes among local communities through field day events at the demonstration farms.
4. Developing a mentorship and small sub-award program to scale the toolkit recommendations.

This project aims to address barriers to adoption of sustainable agriculture by better integrating local knowledge with scientific advancements, to ensure relevance and support for producers and communities in this important biodiversity hotspot.

IT is well known for its high levels of biodiversity and fertile agricultural land. Historically this region has played an important role in the economic development of the country through the expansion of agriculture and cattle ranching. These two activities remain to be the principal land uses in rural areas and pose significant negative impacts on biodiversity as several species have gone extinct locally and natural ecosystems have been lost and fragmented.since 2021 audubon has been engaged in achieving a sustainable future for the cauca valley through promoting biodiversity friendly practices in the region by making this region a central location for its ambitious regenerative agriculture strategy. This strategy utilizes nature based solutions to deliver a comprehensive approach to conservation and community engagement that is aimed at protecting and restoring productive landscapes. The primary goal of audubon is to create habitats by implementing bird friendly practices rooted in agroecology that can boost birds and biodiversity while promoting economic productivity and climate resilience for producers.despite the potential benefits of such practices the adoption rate has been slow. Several studies have shown that the adoption process is complex and that is influenced by several factors. This project will focus on tackling barries to adoption related to lack of access to knowledge and technical expertise by relying on articulating local know how with scientific advancements to ensure that biodiversity friendly practices selected to be scaled in the region are relevant and tailored to the unique characteristics and interests of producers and local communities. This proposal is framed in the conservation stewarship category as we aim to assist communities living in important areas for birds and biodiversity by elevating and recognizing their knowledge and locally proven practices that promote sustainble agroecosystems and landscapes. We propose to carry out activities related WITH1. Establish a regional working group with local stakeholders to guide the CO creation of a toolkit that details nature based solutions and biodiversity firendly practices implemented in the region.2. Support a network of demonstration farms where practices featured in the toolkit are currently being IMPLEMENTED3. Promote experiential exchange among local communities through field day events at demonstration farms and evaluate knowledge gained and attitudes from participants towards implementing PRACTICES4. Develop a mentorship and small subaward program to support the rgional working group and demonstration farms in scaling the toolkit recommendations.