El Tuparro Biosphere Reserve: A challenge for the conservation of Colombian Orinoquia

Biosphere Reserves aim at protecting biodiversity by harmonizing human activities with the environment. Despite many efforts, the implementation of these reserves as management tools still faces many challenges. In this paper, we discuss the challenges that face the El Tuparro Biosphere Reserve, located in the Orinoquia region. Our discussion is based on a review of the consolidation process of the reserve, as well as on a contextual analysis. We emphasize the vision of a reserve as a scheme for environmental planning, one that conserves the region's ecological, cultural and productive attributes by articulating all involved actors. If the decision of conserving an ecosystem is to be a consistent and legitimate one, aiming to benefit nature and its inhabitants, then we must consider the development of appropriate communication strategies and the strengthening of local communities' capacities.