Sistematización de la experiencia: La restauración ecológica como estrategia de retorno ambiental a nivel ecosistémico, en el departamento de Antioquia, experiencia en la cuenca abastecedora río grande II

Abstract

Ecological restoration in Colombia has become a key strategy for recovering degraded ecosystems and improving the quality of life of local communities. In this context, since 2015, the Water Fund of the Valle de Aburrá, Northern and Eastern Antioquia has implemented a series of restoration, conservation, and monitoring actions in the Río Grande II reservoir's supply watershed, as part of the "Integrated Water and Biodiversity Management" program. These efforts align with national policies such as the National Ecological Restoration Plan and aim to strengthen ecological and water sustainability in a region crucial for the water supply of the Valle de Aburrá. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the restoration strategies implemented by the Water Fund in the Río Grande II watershed, with a focus on environmental return and contributions to ecological connectivity. Additionally, the study sought to analyze changes in the composition and structure of the vegetation cover, as well as the impact on local biodiversity, as part of the institutional commitment to the conservation of strategic ecosystems in northern Antioquia. To achieve this, a systematization of experiences was carried out through the documentary analysis of management reports, field observations, and personal experience acquired during years of work with the Fund. This methodology made it possible to reconstruct the process, critically reflect on achievements and challenges, and generate valuable lessons for the continuous improvement of restoration actions. The results show significant progress in ecological connectivity and the recovery of vegetation cover in the intervened areas. Several species of fauna and flora were identified, indicating a positive ecosystem response to the interventions. The monitoring protocol implemented made it possible to observe changes in landscape structure, providing key elements to measure environmental return and guide future decisions for sustainable territorial management in the region.