Banning horses from a national park in exchange for tourism benefits

Snapshot Solution
by Julia Miranda, Parques Nacionales Colombia
Pico de la Sierra, Cocuy NP © Luis Alfonso Cano

Cocuy National Park, Colombia offers high mountain tourism, climbing and glacier hiking. Horses were used to transport equipment and people, which had an impact on the ecosystem. After a very difficult negotiation, an agreement was reached with horsebreeders: No more horses in the park. Instead, porters and guides were introduced.

Last update: 02 Oct 2020
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Context
Challenges addressed
Land and Forest degradation
Loss of Biodiversity
Conflicting uses / cumulative impacts
Changes in socio-cultural context
Scale of implementation
Local
Ecosystems
Tundra or montane grassland
Theme
Restoration
Sustainable livelihoods
Local actors
Culture
Tourism
Location
El Cocuy National Park, Boyaca, Colombia
South America
Impacts

Today people are happy and fulfilled because the measure has benefited more local people than the few horses. For each visitor 3 or 4 porters are hired. Tourism has not decreased. It has increased and the ecosystem has recovered.

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Julia
Miranda
Solution Provider
Parques Nacionales Colombia