Achieved outcomes and impacts:
In the 10 years since the beginning of SILAPE's management, this strategy has been formalized in the municipal territorial planning and has also been recognized as an example of success for other municipalities and for the region. - It has achieved the cooperation of different actors in its planning and implementation - It has achieved the appropriation of the community to its territory, and to the associated biodiversity of flora and fauna, positioning Envigado as a leading and strong municipality in the conservation of ecosystemic functionality at the national level - Through SILAPE 40% of the municipal territory has been declared in rural and urban protected areas, in which restoration programs, conservation, citizen participation, nature tourism activities, among others, are implemented. In the urban area there are 23 hectares formally declared as protected areas and 212 hectares with high potential for their contribution to ecosystem services are in the process of being declared, a rare achievement in Colombian municipalities.
Success factors and lessons learned:
The enthusiasm of the Ministry of Environment for the conservation of natural ecosystems, including all forests regardless of their successional state, as well as the possibility that the strategy of protected areas at the national level could be adapted to the municipal level, were two fundamental success factors for SILAPE. Another success factor is the use of biodiversity, especially of groups that present some level of threat, rarity or high charismatic value (such as felines, carnivores, among others) to highlight the importance and draw the attention of the community in general, leaders and even local administrators, achieving their interest and commitment to the conservation of the ecosystem and its inclusion in land use planning. In this way, it became more understandable and evident that biodiversity is not an isolated factor but that it contributes to the functionality of the ecosystem and that natural forest areas are strategic and should be conserved. The interaction with institutions at different scales, such as the participation of the municipality of Envigado as a member of the Departmental System of Protected Areas of Antioquia (SIDAP) and the participation in different academic events to present our experience are proof of the credibility and success of this system.
