Implementation of a sustainable tourism proposal in the Tota Lake basin – Colombia

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  • December 9, 2024
  • 1 min read
Credit: Adaptation to the Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources in the Andes (AICCA) project

Summary

In the Tota Lake basin, climate change scenarios suggest that for the period 2026-2050, rainfall will increase by 15 to 40% in the wet scenario, while it will decrease by 10 to 20% in the dry scenario. Average maximum and minimum temperatures will increase by 0.5 to 1°C, while climate variability will increase. In the projected period, rainfall will show increases of more than 100% or reductions of 80%. These changes have impacts on the main livelihoods of the communities in the basin (agriculture and livestock), and in synergy with the current problems of land use management, will cause: decreased productivity of agricultural soils, loss of biodiversity, decreased water supply, occurrence of disasters and other socioeconomic effects that will affect the well-being of its inhabitants. The above places importance in promoting alternative livelihoods in the basin that reduce pressures on surrounding ecosystems, and adapting to new meteorological and climatic conditions in the short and medium term. One option: sustainable tourism.

In the specific case of this basin, the sustainable tourism proposal involved a model that encouraged the adaptation of its communities to the adverse effects of climate change through the establishment of two tourist routes, with seven strategic locations:

  • The first route focused on the recognition and enjoyment of the ecosystems of the basin, with the aim of guaranteeing an experience that enhances its intangible heritage value and involves local stakeholders.
  • The second focused on traditional cuisines, with the aim to immerse tourists or visitors in the gastronomic and agricultural traditions of their communities.

Overview

Location:
Implementation sites:
  • Single country
  • Multiple locations
Mountain region:

  • Cordillera de los Andes

Province:
  • Boyacá
Site locations:

  • Aquitania, Tota, Sogamoso

Solution scale:
Ecosystem type(s):
Other Ecosystem type(s):
  • Paramo
Solution type(s):
Sector(s):
Climate impact(s) addressed:
Other climate impact(s) addressed:
  • Changes in rainfall patterns and heavy precipitation
Climate impact time-scale(s):
Main benefit associated with the solution:
Co-benefit(s) associated with the solution implementation:
Implementation timeline:
  • 2021 - 2022
Sendai targets:
SDGs:

Solution details

Main beneficiaries & outcomes

Outcomes:

The project resulted in the following seven sections of the tourist route:

  1. Water mirrors in the Santa Bárbara paramo. It is an ecotourism experience. Here, the community of Acueducto Veredal del Tobal has carried out a process of recovery and conservation of several areas of the paramo.
  2. “El Cortaderal” ecological trail. It is an ecotourism initiative developed by a family from the Las Cintas area, with the participation of several people who live near the area. Here activities are carried out to learn about the native flora of the territory.
  3. Path of connection with the elements. It is a wellness tourism experience in one of the relics of vegetation of the lagoon ecosystem, located in the La Península sector. It is a section of the route led by a female activist who has recovered the area.
  4. Sail Lake Tota. This is an initiative to discover Lake Tota, using traditional boats and accompanied by artisanal fishermen. It includes visits to relics of vegetation of the lagoon ecosystem and observation of the fauna and flora representative of this ecosystem.
  5. Ancestral seeds: a journey through the past. It allows you to learn about various native tubers that are important in the culture of the Tota Lake basin. It is a point on the route led by several representatives of the La Vereda Pérez community, who actively participate in the protection of the basin.
  6. Cocido Boyacense: revaluing traditional flavours. This is a section of the traditional cuisine route in which tourists and visitors prepare this traditional dish of Boyacá cuisine. It is led by one of the traditional cooks of Aquitaine.
  7. Azadón, ganche y sombrero, ready to work the land. It is an experience that brings tourists closer to rural work. During the experience, the typical ingredients of the region are shown, as well as the activities involved in their cultivation and harvest. It is led by one of the community representatives of the basin, who works in the field of birdwatching and the agricultural sector.

Beneficiaries:

Sustainable tourism, as an adaptation measure, has made it possible to strengthen and diversify livelihoods in the basin. Through sustainable practices that enhance the basin’s cultural, natural and intangible value in a context of variability and climate change, it has been made possible to reduce the pressures exerted by extensive agriculture and inappropriate land use practices on its ecosystems.

In particular, the adaptation measure increased support in generating leadership and entrepreneurship capabilities, recognition of local and ancestral knowledge, strengthening the sustainable tourism value chain, and promotion and conservation of natural ecosystems and ecosystem services in the Tota Lake basin.

The main beneficiaries of this measure are people linked to the ecosystem and cuisine routes, as well as those working in the hotel sector and river transport. This also included eight tourism operators that operate within the basin.

The population between 24 and 45 years old participated the most in the implementation of sustainable tourism. The women, for their part, showed great interest and became involved in the solution’s activities, in accordance with their household care duties. However, engagement decreased during the training process due to home care tasks.

As an adaptation measure, the solution is fairly accessible. By focusing on a relatively emerging activity within communities, it requires training processes in tourist guiding and provision of services to tourists. In addition, it is important to work in coordination with local tourism operators to ensure their integration, and to adapt the model to the legislation that governs the sector.

Planning and implementation

The planning and implementation process of the sustainable tourism model in the Tota Lake basin involved the following stages:

  1. Socio-environmental diagnosis of the basin and territorial analysis of adaptation. Through the diagnosis, the productive systems, the main ecosystems, the actors, and modes of local governance were characterized. Through the territorial analysis, the adaptation requirements in the basin were identified.
  2. Design of the proposal for sustainable tourism in the Tota Lake basin, together with local actors.
  3. Validation of the proposal and implementation of five pilot experiences.
  4. Design and validation of a tourist route in strategic ecosystems of the basin, considering the Main Ecological Structure (PES) and climate variability and change scenarios (VC/CC).
  5. Design and validation of a route of traditional cuisines, highlighting ancestral knowledge and cultural customs.
  6. Implementation of tourist activism strategies on the topic of climate change.
  7. Training for the hotel sector, nautical operators, boatmen, and tourism entrepreneurs, to improve their environmental practices.
  8. Creation of one demonstration space for native or representative flora species of ecosystem importance.

The AICCA Project led the planning and implementation processes of the solution, while the beneficiaries participated in the planning, design and implementation process of the pilot sustainable tourism proposal.

Finance

This adaptation measure is part of the Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts on Water Resources in the Andes Project (AICCA). This project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), implemented by the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) and executed by the Consortium for Sustainable Development of the Andean Ecoregion (CONDESAN).

In Colombia, the project is being implemented jointly with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Minambiente) and the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (IDEAM). During its implementation, Paola Suárez Orduz and Johanna Zuluaga collaborated.

The funding was provided as a donation and the cost of the adaptation measure was USD 10,000.

Innovation

This adaptation measure is a pilot for sustainable tourism in high mountain areas. It integrates the main cultural values and enhances them, to promote an activity that generates respectful links between visitors with ecosystems and traditional cuisines.

The measure managed to identify strategic points within the basin and, through participatory work, enhances local knowledge. Therefore, the greatest innovative potential is the collaborative methodological process that allows the construction and creation of the entire experience.

Performance evaluation

Since the measure is still in the implementation phase, an evaluation of the performance of the measure has not been carried out.

Capacities for design and implementation

Knowledge

The sustainable tourism routes were designed taking into account local knowledge of ecosystems and traditional cuisines. The participating communities created the interpretive scripts of the places and experiences, highlighting their cultural knowledge.

During the training process, the technical knowledge that led to the selection of this adaptation measure was also integrated. This knowledge included: the Main Ecological Structure (EEP), the analysis of vulnerability and risk due to climate change, the scenarios of variability and climate change, and hydrological modelling.

Technology

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) were fundamental in the design and implementation of this adaptation measure, especially during the territorial analysis for adaptation.

Political / Legal

This measure is framed in Colombia’s national climate change policy, specifically, in the strategic line “Management and conservation of ecosystems and ecosystem services for low-carbon and climate-resilient development.” It is also in line with the National Adaptation Plan.

The measure is also aligned with Law 2068, “General Tourism Law” (2020), which establishes that the tourism sector has the responsibility of ensuring the protection of the country’s flora and fauna. Likewise, it is articulated with the standards of: Tourism Sustainability NTS – TS 002, Protection of biodiversity, Prevention of illicit trafficking of flora and fauna, and Support for protection and sustainable use programs.

Finally, at the local level, the measure is in line with the regulations of the Environmental Management Plan for the Lake Tota basin (2014), which promotes sustainable production processes and the diversification of production in the basin. This national and local political framework motivated the teams to promote this solution and made it easy to justify.

Institutional

The local partners were the tourism operators of the basin, the target community and the local mayors.

The coordination mechanism with the operators and the community was an agreement of wills to develop networking. In the case of mayors’ offices, framework agreements were established to guarantee adequate coordination during implementation.

Socio-cultural

As part of the governance and sustainability strategy of this adaptation measure, co-development spaces were created with local communities. These spaces made it possible to jointly evaluate local needs in terms of adaptation to change and climate variability. Furthermore, the knowledge and capabilities of the communities were fundamental in the development of the pilot experience of this measure.

Outlook & Scalability

Barriers and adverse effects

The main barrier to this measure was adapting the tourism development proposal to the basic infrastructure available. Additionally, it was necessary to level out the knowledge of the actors involved in sustainable tourism. To this end, the community went deeper into various topics about this type of activity.

Transformation and future outlook

Lake Tota is listed by the department of Boyacá as one of its seven wonders and a unique tourist destination in its territory. Therefore, this adaptation measure takes advantage of this resource to respond to the challenges of climate change and strengthens the sector’s value chain at a local level.

Potential for upscaling and replication

It is crucial to intensify efforts to help the basin community and other vulnerable groups in high mountain ecosystems diversify their livelihoods. This can be achieved through initiatives that enhance the natural and cultural value of their territory.

This experience can be replicated, as long as a community training process is initially carried out on sustainable tourism issues and its practices.