La Switzerland: A Prime Example of Productive Conservation in Colombia

The Switzerland is a property with around 50 hectares, where more than half are destined for conservation. This is living proof that productive activities can be developed and natural resources protected at the same time. Valle del Cauca is the region of Colombia with the most private reserves with 178.

B-281 Versailles, October 24, 2023

Civil society reserves are properties or farms where natural ecosystems are conserved, while productive activities are carried out in an environmentally friendly manner. This is the case of the La Switzerland reserve, located in the municipality of Versalles, a property of approximately 50 hectares where important resources such as forest and water are protected.

“This is a very special farm, as it seems, it is not very extensive, but there are large outcrops of water. We have twenty hectares of pasture and eight springs, so from here we get the water that goes to the Versailles aqueduct. The La Switzerland stream is also born on this farm and there are many benefits; Practically more than half of the area is forest and I protect it,” explained Albeiro Valencia Espinosa, owner of the Natural Reserve of the La Switzerland Civil Society.

While Don Albeiro protects the water and the forest, he implements silvopastoral systems to develop his livestock project – one of his main productive activities – in a sustainable way. He also has sheep and chickens. His wife, for his part, is dedicated to growing flowers and protecting important species of orchids.

“My husband fell in love with Versailles. I am from Antioquia and he is from Valluno. Albeiro liked Versailles all his life and one day he told me that they were selling La Switzerland, so we came to live here. Now I am growing flowers and foliage, and preserving orchids; I have anthuriums, cartouches, birds of paradise, heliconias and hydrangeas for sale,” said Ruth Emilse Montoya from Valencia.

The couple is in love with this municipality. They have always longed to live in these lands and now, they are Versaillesans at heart, they want to spend the rest of their days surrounded by these green mountains.

“It has been a very nice job that we have carried out during all this time. Of the fifty hectares, I have twenty that are pastures and a silvopastoral system, my wife has between four and four and a half dedicated to flowers and foliage, and the other twenty-six are forest. At 78 years old, it gives me immense satisfaction to be able to live here peacefully and know that we are generating happiness for the community and families,” highlighted the man, with a big smile on his face.

The CVC has been accompanying the process on the La Switzerland farm. In 2015, it was declared a Civil Society Natural Reserve (RNSC) and, since then, several projects have been implemented.

“The support has been mutual and Mr. Albeiro has always been extremely willing to assist the CVC. Several projects have been developed here, especially related to landscape management tools. This is a property of great water importance due to the richness of its waters and the conservation of the forests,” said Leonardo Fabio Pérez, official of the BRUT regional of the CVC.

This is living proof that you can have a productive farm and, at the same time, protect and conserve natural resources.

Projected by: Jéssica Henao Carvajal – CVC Communications
Reviewed: Wilson García and Mauricio Guzmán Ferraro – CVC Communications