Land rights are a key driver of conflict in Colombia. The country’s land administration system is complex and fragmented, involving numerous institutions and overlapping mandates. As a result, securing legal land titles is often difficult, particularly for rural, Indigenous, and Afro-Colombian communities. This lack of clarity and access to land tenure continues to pose a major challenge to peacebuilding and rural development. Together with Kadaster, ICCO Conexión, and Tropenbos Colombia, three different LAND-at-scale programs were set up in Colombia. A group of participants from various LAND-at-Scale programs around the world visited one of the initiative’s flagship projects in the Sierra Nevada near Santa Marta. During the visit, they met with the Arhuaco people—one of the five Indigenous communities that inhabit this culturally and ecologically significant region.
Beeld: © Kadaster / LAN Andes
Together with Kadaster, ICCO Conexión, and Tropenbos Colombia, three different LAND-at-scale programs were set up in Colombia. LAND-at-scale is a governance support program that focuses on sustainable and just land governance for everyone. LAND-at-Scale is active in 12 countries, promoting economic development and social justice, while focusing on women's rights and climate change. This is done by providing technical, legal, and socioeconomic solutions at national and local levels. It is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and managed by the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO).
The first step of the program in the Sierra Nevada focused on clarifying land ownership. Kadaster supported the local Indigenous communities by helping map their ancestral territories. As part of this effort, Indigenous youth received training in identifying their lands and sacred sites. They learned to use mapping equipment and collect geospatial data, empowering them to document and protect their territory.
Beeld: © Kadaster / LAN Andes
The project also included a socioeconomic component, recognizing that income generation is essential for sustaining livelihoods and and acquiring additional land—what the Indigenous communities refer to as land recovery rather than land acquisition. Although the Arhuaco people were already cultivating coffee, the project provided training to improve the quality of their crops, allowing them to increase income without expanding production. This additional income strengthens their ability to recover traditional territories. They also generate revenue through the sale of mochilas—traditional handmade bags that reflect their cultural identity and craftsmanship.
Beeld: © Kadaster / LAN Andes
The project has delivered significant benefits. Indigenous communities in the Sierra Nevada are regaining ownership of their ancestral lands, advancing their core mission to protect the territory and its rich biodiversity. As their living space has expanded, there has been a marked increase in reforestation and improved conservation of existing forests. Only 20% of the land is used for agriculture, with the aim of generating sustainable income that enables the communities to continue safeguarding their environment for future generations.
At the Land Portal, you can find more information about this project and other LAND-at-scale projects in Colombia and around the world.
More information
If you would like to know more or want to get in touch with the Agricultural & Biodiversity team, please contact us on bog-lvvn@minbuza.nl (for Colombia and Ecuador) or lim-lvvn@minbuza.nl (for Peru).