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Following the cancellation of the ‘Línea Negra’ earlier this year, Colombian President Gustavo Petro recently signed a new decree recognising the existence of this line. This decision marks an important milestone for the territorial and spiritual rights of the Kogi, Arhuaco, Wiwa and Kankuamo peoples. For the peoples of the Sierra, this is not merely a boundary drawn on a map. The Línea Negra connects sacred sites, mountains, rivers, beaches, stones and ceremonial places which, together, form a living, spiritual landscape. These places are considered essential to the balance of the world and to maintaining harmony between human beings, nature and invisible forces. This view of the territory differs profoundly from our Western conception of space. Here, the land is not a resource to be exploited, but a living being with which one must maintain a relationship based on balance and responsibility.

An initial decree adopted in 2018 had recognised this sacred demarcation. However, in early 2026, the Colombian Council of State annulled it on administrative and procedural grounds. The new decree, signed this year in close consultation with traditional authorities, therefore aims to restore this legal protection following a renewed process of dialogue. It officially recognises the cultural, spiritual and ecological importance of these territories and strengthens their protection against pressures from mining, tourism and industry.

Beyond the legal issue, this decision reflects a broader shift in Colombia – that of a country gradually paving the way for the recognition of the rights of nature and indigenous knowledge in territorial governance.

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