Meta, Colombia—Mayor Ana Shirley González González understands the urgent need beneath her feet.
“We live from the countryside,” said Gonzalez, who serves as mayor of Fuente de Oro, a municipality located on the banks of the Ariari River in the Colombian department of Meta. “We must give back to the land all the benefits that it has given us.”
Aware of this reality, González became one of the founding members of the Ariari Sustainable Mayors Network, an initiative that brings together local leaders committed to rural development and the transition of farmers towards regenerative agriculture. In total, 14 mayors are part of the Network, whose launch and implementation have been facilitated by Rare.
“We are responsible for our own well-being,” said González. “We must recover our soils to improve our profitability, protect the environment, and strengthen our ability to move forward as a community and as a region.”
A joint effort for sustainability
The mayors have joined efforts to promote sustainable agriculture practices, boost economic development, and protect natural resources to ensure food security and face the challenges climate change and the loss of biodiversity.
Located between the Amazonian foothills and the Eastern Plains, the Ariari region has fertile soils ideal for cacao cultivation. However, deforestation, cattle ranching, and agriculture contribute significantly to carbon emissions, making the Meta region the second-largest emitter of greenhouse gases among Colombia’s 32 departments.
At the national level, the Agriculture, Silviculture, Other land use (AFOLU) sector is responsible for 62% of greenhouse gas emissions (GHG), while agriculture and livestock account for 26%.
“The creation of a network of mayors is key to building a more sustainable and climate-resilient future,” said José Zárate, the former Secretary of Agriculture for the region. “Through coordination and knowledge sharing, the mayors turn their territories into referents of adaptation and mitigation of climate change, serving as an inspiration for other municipalities that want to follow their example.”
A model of cooperation for agricultural transformation
The Network will enable local leaders to jointly address the effects of climate change on farmers, share information, and promote innovative solutions. With the support of Rare and the UK PACT program, the Ariari region is becoming a national model for sustainable production, using community extension as a key tool to train a growing number of smallholder farmers in regenerative practices.
“Climate change is the most urgent challenge of our time, and local leaders are key to guiding us toward a more sustainable future,” said Mónica Varela, Vice President of Rare Colombia and Director of Rare’s Lands for Life program, which supports the adoption of regenerative agricultural practices in agricultural communities. “This is a decisive step towards a sustainability. Together, we can make a difference.”
A local response to a global challenge
Climate change directly affects smallholder farmers, not only in Colombia, but worldwide. Extreme weather events, water scarcity, flooding and increased pests and diseases threaten rural livelihoods. In addition, excessive use of fertilizers and other unsustainable practices contribute significantly to GHG emissions.
The Network Sustainable is made up of: Mayors Ana Shirley González, Fuente de O ro; Brayhann Camilo Velázquez Suarez, Cubarral; Oscar Olaya López, El Dorado; John Germán Ramírez Hernández, San Martín; Leonito Eliécer Castro Cifuentes, Castilla la Nueva; Nick Jefree Martínez Alba, Lejanías; Camilo Antonio Pulgarín Suárez, Mesetas; Ricardo Díaz Rodríguez, San Juan de Arama; Juan Andrés Gómez López, Vista Hermosa; Juan Carlos Mendoza Rendón, Granada; Daimer Otálora Vera, El Castillo; José Fernando Peña Rabelo, Guamal; Carlos Julio Plata Becerra, Acacías. Also participating in the initiative are Martha Shirley Romero Morales, s ecretaria de Medio Ambiente and Andrés Pardo Romero, s ecretario de Agricultura de la Gobernación del Meta.
Rare and its focus on local leadership
Rare is committed to a approach to community leadership conservation. In 2021, Rare helped launch the Coastal 500, a global network of mayors from coastal communities that promote prosperity and sustainability in their territories. This initiative was a finalist for the Earthshot Prize in 2023.
The Sustainable Mayors Network is part of Rare’s Lands for Life program designed to empower small farmers and ranchers in their adaptation to climate change and the conservation of biodiversity.
Rare combines behavioral science, farmer-to-farmer learning, and community-based strategies to encourage adoption of sustainable practices on a large scale. To date, Rare has supported more than 5,000 farmers in adopting techniques that improve soil health, reduce agrochemical use and restore ecosystems.