ABOUT SANTA MARTA
The historically important city of Santa Marta is located in the north of Colombia and was the first city the Spanish settlers founded in Colombia in 1525. It´s located at the Carribean Sea and is a touristic hotspot because of its climate, beaches and natural attractions close by. It´s the capital of the Magdalena department and under its jurisdiction you can find the Tayrona national park, the Sierra Nevada and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta. We are fortunate to work with a great local NGO partner that is advocating for sustainable community practices and better waste management: Tras la Perla
LOCAL GOALS
• Improve Waste management • Ecosystem protection and restoration • Facilitate dialogue between all stakeholders • Increase community education on sustainability
UNITED NATIONS SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
LOCAL PARTNERS
Tras la Perla (TLP) is a non-profit initiative, founded and directed by the Colombian artist Carlos Vives, whose objective is to revive the city of Santa Marta and its areas of influence. Created in 2015, TLP promotes sustainable development by convening different public and private actors, managing resources according to identified needs and formulating successful and sustainable solutions with the active participation of communities. We do it through three strategic axes, these being the strengthening of the social fabric, infrastructure for development, and recovery, care and sustainability of our ecosystems.
La Sierra Artist Residency is a non-profit organization that uses the power of art to impact lives generating environmental awareness while promoting cultural exchange. By uniting art and nature as creative inspiration, their project fosters dynamic ideas around the fundamental values of sustainability, community, and well-being. They strive to inspire the lives of the youth and people in rural communities located in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia.
KANTINURWA LIMPIA
A program for the traditional and technical management of solid waste in an indigenous Arhuaco community in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta; that seeks environmental sanitation through training in waste management, collection and dispatch.
CLEANUPS
Hand in hand with our community of business owners, hotels, foundations, cooperatives, local artisans and students of all ages we have created Beach, River & Mangrove Clean Ups groups and campaigns. These transforming experiences generate more consciousness, respect and meaningful connection with Mother Nature.
RECOVERY OF THE ECOSYSTEM
The Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta, located in the north of Colombia, is the largest lagoon complex in the country and one of the most strategic for the life on the planet. The intense action of man on the environment since colonial times, the construction of infrastructure without taking into account the ecological needs of the system, and the violence as a result of the armed conflict in Colombia, severely affected the survival of this ecosystem. TLP is working on an instance that can structure and supervise all the actions that interfere with this ecosystem, and stop its deterioration.
Eco Coloring Book
This ecological coloring book about environmental sustainability and indigenous culture in the Sierra Nevada region. This coloring book project provides children, teenagers, young adults, and teachers, an educational & graphic tool to learn about their surroundings and how to care for the environment. This coloring book, with its unique format, has the power to impact lives not only in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta but throughout Colombia and the world.