Colombia advances soil conservation through community workshops and legal awareness

On July 7, communities in the Cauca department of Colombia marked the national Soil Conservation Day with a series of educational activities. In the high‑mountain municipality of Puracé, students, teachers, local leaders and environmental organisations gathered to receive training as certified environmental dynamisers. Participants were provided with kits—including shovels, hoses and other tools—to support school and community projects such as nurseries, restoration events and sustainable gardening.

The events highlighted the legal and ecological importance of soil. Colombia’s National Code of Renewable Natural Resources designates soil as a renewable natural resource, and the Constitutional Court has affirmed that soil integrity is essential for agriculture, industry, health, housing and overall public welfare. Officials emphasized that protecting soil safeguards water, biodiversity and climate regulation, underscoring the need for ongoing public participation in soil management.

The combined initiative aims to turn classrooms into hubs of environmental transformation, creating a network of local action that protects soils, water sources and regional biodiversity.