Strengthening Community Conservation for the Mountain Tapir in Colombia
Supported by the IUCN Save Our Species and Fondation Segré
1st Quarter Update
Notes from the field, June 2025
In the southern Andes of Colombia, our team at the Sacha Huagra Foundation is working with local communities to protect one of South America’s most endangered mammals: the Mountain Tapir (Tapirus pinchaque). Through our project “Strengthening participatory mountain tapir conservation in a community-managed area in the southern Andes of Colombia,” supported by the IUCN Save Our Species and Fondation Segré, we are building a model where science, conservation, and community development go hand in hand.
A group photo with our newly formed partner: Grupo Ecológico Puraguá
What We’ve Achieved So Far
Since launching in 2024, we’ve focused on laying a strong foundation—ecologically, institutionally, and socially. Here's what we've accomplished in our first phase:
Training and Monitoring
We organized five community workshops on species monitoring and conservation, training local residents in camera trapping, GPS use, and biodiversity data collection.
With the support of the IUCN grant, we purchased 20 camera traps, which are now being set up in a new participatory monitoring initiative. A local master’s student is co-developing a study to explore occupancy and density patterns of both Mountain Tapirs and Andean Bears.
These activities are improving both our ecological understanding and local capacity, setting the stage for long-term, locally managed monitoring systems.
A mountain tapir near the salt lick of Balseros. A video taken part of the monitoring workshop
Community Infrastructure for Conservation
Together with our local partners organization we secured three sites with existing cabins that will be restored into small research and ecotourism stations.
We completed a topographical survey of the village to plan for a future Salón Comunal—a multipurpose building that will serve as both a visitor center and a community space for workshops, training, and cultural events.
We are now collaborating with a Colombian architect who specializes in natural materials, to co-design this space in a participatory way with the community.
Connectivity and Communication
Recognizing that a lack of communication infrastructure is a barrier for both conservation and community wellbeing, we installed a satellite internet system in the village. This not only enables smoother coordination with external partners but also allows locals to stay informed and connected.
Sergio Sandoval (first left), together with local coordinator Hector Males from Huellas del Macizo (second right), training the community of Castellana on monitoring and later on hospitality workshops
