Hello everyone, friends, members and supporters

Whether you are a long-standing member or have only recently joined us, we thank you for your support and commitment, and hope to have the pleasure of counting you amongst us in 2023!

Although the season for New Year’s greetings has passed, we would nevertheless like to extend our best wishes to you and your loved ones. This is a special year for us, as it marks Tchendukua’s 25th anniversary. Twenty-five years serving the communities of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, who are paving the way for peace with nature, harmony and a simple way of life. 25 years dedicated to these ‘guardians of the forest’ – the indigenous communities – who, though far from our cities, are at the forefront of preserving biodiversity and nature. A journey strewn with obstacles but also filled with victories! Among these victories are 2,472 hectares of land repurchased and returned, around 70 per cent of which is undergoing forest regeneration. These are challenges we could never have overcome without your support and the involvement of all our key players, whether in France, Switzerland, Belgium or Colombia.

Tchendukua comprises more than 2,000 members, citizens united by a shared conviction: our future lies, in part, in supporting indigenous peoples, strengthening their cultures and fostering spaces for dialogue between traditional ecological knowledge and modern science.

Now more than ever, we wish to continue our efforts: this year, two plots of land have already been acquired and returned to the Wiwa people, covering a total area of 86 hectares. 2023 will also see the implementation of a second joint assessment (by Kogi traditional authorities and scientists) of the ecological health of significant sites in the Rhône catchment area. This meeting should help to deepen the dialogue that has been ongoing since 2015. The aim? To gain a better understanding of how a territory functions, to identify its most vulnerable areas in order to contribute to their preservation, and even to establish resilience measures in the face of the challenges posed by global warming. 2023 looks set to be a decisive year for reconnecting with our territories and ‘putting life back at the heart of our actions’ (Mamu Bernardo, 2018).

Restoring and nurturing the land, preserving forests, promoting intercultural dialogue, and making peace with ourselves and with nature. To continue on this path, we need you, your commitment and your support.

You can get involved in our work by joining the Tchendukua association – click here.
You can also help spread the word about our work in your region! (Through talks or workshops in
schools).

We thank you in advance for your commitment to our cause and hope to count you amongst our members this year.

The Tchendukua team in France and Colombia