They used to be a part of an illegal and brutal business that threated both the life of people and the nature. Today, the ex-coca farmers, Flor Acevedo and José Munara, use the treasures of the Amazon rainforest for better means.
Through the Colombian environmental organization FCDS, Flor and José are part of local communities who have received support to start up alternative, legal and forest friendly businesses. Alternative livelihoods include businesses such as bee farms/Honey production, creating forest friendly oil from palm trees, creating natural fertilizer from black soldier ants, the use of forest fruits for desserts and more.
“We work closely with the communities, giving them alternatives to coca growing and deforestation”, Angela Rojas tells. She is the regional coordinator of FCDS, which is also monitoring the deforestation closely by doing regular overflights over the Eastern Colombian Amazon in a small aircraft.
The Amazon is under pressure from cattle farmers, coca growers, miners, Illegal loggers and landgrabbers.
Landgrabbing is the biggest problem of the Eastern Colombian Amazon, according to Angela Rojas.
But Colombia is taking action and making progress in the efforts to protect the rainforest, with the support of Norway and other international partners.