Who we are

A 501(3)(c) non-profit organization, the Bionservancy Foundation centers its efforts on the conservation of biodiversity in the northwest Andes of Colombia. The foundation supports and executes directly scientific research, environmental education and conservation activities.

VISION

We are the most important private reserve of the civil society in the Andes of Colombia, and an example to follow of a successful conservation project in the Americas.

MISSION

Conserve the biodiversity of natural andean ecosystems in Colombia through the integration of research, environmental education and the active participation of the community, and the establishment of natural protected areas and corridors.

OBJECTIVES

Promote and support research projects that increase the knowledge of endangered species, biodiversity and natural ecosystems in the northwest Andes of Colombia.
Acquire and protect critical areas for conservation to rebuild connectivity between forest fragments focusing on those that have natural water sources.
Establish conservation programs with local communities in areas where they impact important ecosystems, to promote a responsible use of the land while conserving the biodiversity.
Establish partnerships and agreements with national and international entities for the conservation of biodiversity.

Biodiversity

Connectivity

Watersheds

Environmental

Education

HISTORY

BIOCONSERVANCY (formerly The Hummingbird Conservancy -THC) was founded in 2005 but its history goes back to the year 1998. Its founder, Luis A. Mazariegos Hurtado, Ph.D., after more than 25 years of traveling throughout tropical America and photographing over 200 species of hummingbirds, decided to publish the book “Hummingbirds of Colombia” to contribute to the conservation of endangered species in Colombia. Having first hand knowledge of the problems that Andean ecosystems face and their importance for the survival of many endangered species, he proposed the creation of the foundation. Through the foundation, research and conservation initiatives in the northwest Andes of Colombia are accomplished.

HONORARY

MEMBERS

Jorge Enrique Orejuela Gartner, PhD, founder and director of the Cali Botanical Garden in Colombia and professor in the environmental sciences department at Universidad Autónoma de Occidente. He is the National Geographic 2007 Buffet prize winner for his work over three decades in conservation education, protected area management and sustainable development in the tropics. His accomplishments include the establishment of the cloud forest nature reserve, La Planada and also helped establish Utría and Gorgona Island national parks, and Quindío Basin and Calima River nature reserves. As a field researcher sponsored for 10 years by the World Wildlife Fund, he paved the way for the establishment of that organization in Colombia.

Francisco Piedrahita Plata, MS, President of ICESI University since 1996 and over 26 years in the private industry sector where he held various positions in different functional areas, industries and countries. Professor at various universities in the areas of Operations Research, Statistics, International Marketing, Ethics and Organizations and Corporate Governance and major training programs during his professional life ─International Marketing, Cambridge, England; Cross Cultural Management, Tokyo, Japan; Leaders of Latin American Universities, Harvard University; and Family Enterprise Challenge, Fontainebleau, France. Francisco is an avid birder and has traveled Colombia and the world in search of our feathered friends.

Alvaro Cogollo Pacheco, Biologist, Scientific Director of the Botanical Garden in Medellin. Considered one of the most important natural botanists of South America who has earned several awards and recognitions for his vast research activities and botanical explorations in different regions of Colombia. He has the following Specializations: Taxonomy and Management of Herbariums, Missouri Botanical Garden; Orchid Biology, Colombian Society of Orchidology; Management and Conservation of Flowers, Botanical Garden Foundation Joaquín Antonio Uribe; and Teaching Ecology to Young Children, Missouri Botanical Garden. He is currently active in the following lines of investigation: Systematics and Taxonomy, Biodiversity Conservation, Ethnobotany and Sustainable Use.