In June, IRI Colombia carried out two major capacity-building workshops in Orito (June 19) and Puerto Leguízamo (June 25), training more than 220 religious, community, and Indigenous leaders from six local chapters across the department of Putumayo. The events combined spiritual reflection, scientific knowledge, and civic training to strengthen grassroots leadership for Amazon protection.
Faith, Science, and Civic Engagement
In Orito, members of the IRI-Orito, IRI-Churuyaco, and IRI-Siberia chapters took part in discussions on tropical forests and conservation challenges led by Belén Ojeda Cruz, Senior Subnational Consultant in Bioeconomy at the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI). Political scientist Fernando Segura then guided participants through mechanisms of citizen participation and social oversight, emphasizing strategies for monitoring state programs linked to environmental protection.
In Puerto Leguízamo, more than 70 local leaders deepened their understanding of eco-theology, biodiversity, ecosystem services, and political advocacy. Biologist Diego Fernando Campos stressed the urgency of halting deforestation: “Deforestation alters rainfall patterns and aggravates environmental risks. Protecting Amazonian forests is also a strategy to mitigate climate change and preserve life on the planet.”
Political scientist José Adolfo Castañeda followed with the workshop “Political Advocacy: Participation, Collective Action, and Social Oversight,” highlighting how communities can organize, engage with government, and mobilize collective action for forest protection and territorial rights.
Eco-Balance Dialogues with Local Authorities
Both events culminated in an Eco-Balance 2025 dialogue with municipal authorities, designed to promote citizen participation and evaluate local environmental policies. In Orito, Mayor Edinson Ramírez, alongside officials from the Office of Rural Development and Environment, presented programs for forest protection, biodiversity conservation, and watershed management—including reforestation projects in the Yarumo River basin and the distribution of eco-efficient stoves to reduce deforestation pressures.
“We must achieve a balance with nature. We rely on you, the religious and community leaders who defend the territory every day,” Mayor Ramírez told participants.
In Puerto Leguízamo, Acting Mayor and Secretary of Government Carlos Arbey Claros, together with the Secretaries of Education and Agriculture, shared advances in deforestation control and environmental protection at the municipal level, inviting IRI chapters to collaborate in co-managing natural resources.
Building a Network of Action
Through these trainings, IRI Colombia continues to strengthen its network of local chapters—Orito, Churuyaco, Siberia, Puerto Leguízamo, La Samaritana, and El Triunfo—by equipping leaders with the knowledge, spiritual grounding, and advocacy tools needed to influence policies, protect biodiversity, and advance climate resilience in the Andean-Amazon foothills.
