With 190 hectares of mangrove restored, the Grupo Argos Foundation reaffirms its leadership in protecting this crucial ecosystem for Colombia

• In the past five years, the Grupo Argos Foundation has planted 850,000 mangrove seedlings in Atlántico, Bolívar, and Sucre, directly contributing to the conservation of 190 hectares of this crucial ecosystem.
• By the end of the year, the Grupo Argos Foundation will have planted an additional 100,000 seedlings in Ciénaga de Mallorquín in Atlántico, Barú in Bolívar, and Bocacerrada and Rincón del Mar in Sucre.
• These plantings help improve fishing processes and create new coastal buffer areas, which capture up to 10 times more carbon than an equivalent area of terrestrial forest and serve as a strategic natural barrier against the effects of climate change.

Understanding its role in carbon capture and aiming to strengthen the country’s natural barriers, Grupo Argos Foundation has led the protection of coastal ecosystems through the voluntary planting of mangroves in Atlántico, Bolívar, and Sucre, with over 850,000 seedlings planted in the past five years. These plantings directly contribute to the conservation of 190 hectares of this key ecosystem.

“We recognize the importance of mangroves in countering the effects of climate change in the country, which is why we continue to work on their protection and conservation along the Caribbean coast. We will keep advancing with projects that, in addition to contributing to biodiversity protection, provide new opportunities for the local communities who depend on this ecosystem.”

María Camila Villegas
Executive Director Grupo Argos Foundation

Recently, Grupo Argos Foundation announced the planting of an additional 100,000 mangrove seedlings in Barú, Bolívar; Bocacerrada and Rincón del Mar, Sucre; and the Ciénaga de Mallorquín in the Atlántico department. These initiatives are highlighted by the active involvement of Grupo Argos Urban Development Business and organizations like the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Atlántico, which have joined forces to contribute to the active and passive restoration of this ecosystem in the Ciénaga de Mallorquín.

These restoration efforts are carried out in collaboration with local communities, building their capacities through the establishment of two community nurseries in Atlántico and Bolívar that currently provide 234 jobs to coastal communities. The residents of these areas have found environmental care to be an opportunity for growth and economic development. Additionally, as part of the Grupo Argos Urban Development Business’s compensation efforts, technical support has been provided for the characterization, diagnosis, and zoning of mangroves in the Atlántico department, which will enhance decision-making and biodiversity management by the communities and environmental authorities.

About Mangroves
Mangroves are known to store up to 10 times more carbon than the same area of terrestrial forest and are closely linked to the quality of life for people living in coastal areas due to their ability to enhance fishing processes. Furthermore, the mangrove ecosystem is essential for sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions and serves as a natural barrier against natural disasters.