Save the Mangroves, Protect Life

In the first week of October 2025, the teams from the environmental node, Mundo Verde, Afrovismar, and Vivac't, along with the children's nursery led by Ana Lares, joined forces for another environmental event in the northern part of Rincón del Mar to plant red mangrove seedlings.

Each child, accompanied by the groups, was able to plant their own tree, and together we managed to plant almost 500 plants!

This initiative, through concrete action, raises awareness among the children of Rincón del Mar about the importance of preserving mangroves, an ecosystem so precious to both the community and the local biodiversity.

Thanks to all the organizations and the Balsillas social program for making this event possible, and a special round of applause for all the children!

On June 16 and 17, our team in Colombia, VivAct – LifeTime Projects Colombia, had the honor of welcoming representatives from the EDF Foundation to Rincón del Mar. This visit, organized in collaboration with our local partner Afrovismar, was an important opportunity to showcase the multiple components of our environmental initiatives and their growing impact on the community.

Mangrove Restoration – Zona Norte
The EDF Foundation team visited Zona Norte, a mangrove area currently under restoration. This ecosystem, once rich in biodiversity, has suffered from deforestation and soil drying. Our team has begun digging irrigation channels to rehydrate the soil and encourage the return of native species. While we’ve made substantial progress, one hectare of mangrove still remains to be restored. This final step is crucial to completing the ecological rehabilitation of the area.

Community Nursery Development
The visit also included a tour of our newly constructed community nursery, where young mangrove saplings are already being cultivated. These seedlings will soon be transplanted into degraded zones. The nursery serves as both a reforestation hub and a tool for community education on the importance of biodiversity conservation.

Waste Management and Environmental Education
The visit continued with a walk through the village to address one of the most pressing environmental and social challenges in the area: waste. Our team in Colombia is responding to this issue by developing local waste revalorization strategies and leading educational workshops for children. These activities aim to raise environmental awareness from a young age and build long-term behavioral change.

Coral Reef Protection
Finally, with the help of local expert Carmelo, our guests learned about our coral bleaching response project. This initiative seeks to protect the fragile marine ecosystems along the Caribbean coast, which are under increasing threat due to rising temperatures and human impact.

We are deeply grateful to the EDF Foundation for their time, engagement, and interest in our local actions that reflect global environmental challenges. Their visit reinforces the value of collaborative partnerships in addressing interconnected ecological and social issues.

Thank you for your continued support as we restore biodiversity, empower communities, and work toward climate resilience in Rincón del Mar.