Julio Marín-Cruz, FBC’s Regional Environmental Leader, discussing conservation aims with members of the local community near the El Silencio Reserve. Credit: Fundación Biodiversa Colombia (FBC)
Community lies at the heart of our conservation partner Fundación Biodiversa Colombia’s (FBC) conservation work and nowhere is this clearer than in the Middle Magdalena Valley. Here, dialogue and listening are essential tools for protecting wildlife and supporting the people who live alongside it.
Julio Marín-Cruz, FBC’s Regional Environmental Leader, says listening is central to navigating conflict within the region. “We often deal with internal conflicts involving armed groups that operate outside the law,” he explains. “That has motivated me to learn to listen to others, to become a mediator.”
Listening forms a key part of Julio’s work as FBC’s Regional Environmental Leader, not only for resolving conflicts but also for promoting sustainable fishing. Credit: FBC
“Armed groups are fighting each other over territory and resources – natural, economic, and social. We must learn to handle all that. Regardless of skin colour or social status, everyone deserves to be heard. Only by listening can agreements be reached.” Julio Marín-Cruz, FBC’s Regional Environmental Leader
This diplomacy extends beyond conflict mediation and into traditional practices. Julio describes the long process of phasing out liso, an unsustainable fishing method that involves stretching a net across the mouth of a creek. This practice is especially damaging during spawning season, when it captures entire generations of young fish.
“It took almost two years of dialogue with the Barbacoas fishermen and many others in the region to stop using it”, Julio explains. “Agreements were also reached on fishing schedules. These agreements matter, but they also need follow-up. Delegates must ensure things are working – not as police, but as mediators who can identify when something isn’t working and why.”
Finding common ground proved essential during a two-year dialogue with the Barbacoas fishermen to phase out the use of liso, an unsustainable fishing technique. Credit: FBC
Julio believes this kind of collaboration is only possible through time spent on the ground. “I love being here with the forest rangers, talking with them, listening. They have good ideas too. The board plan comes from the office, but in the field we interact and, based on experience, can see what might work better. Empirical knowledge and professional knowledge need to be carefully planned together.”
The importance of dialogue came up in many interviews, including with freshwater turtle specialist Pearson McGovern.
“You have to show that you’re there for the long haul, that there’s give and take, and that communities will also see benefits,” Pearson told us. “Many already recognise that resources are limited – they see how pollution, river changes and overharvesting have played a part. That understanding helps us find common ground.”
Communication and dialogue is an essential tool for protecting the Critically Endangered Magdalena River Turtle (Podocnemis lewyana). Credit: Callie Broaddus
“It’s not about condemning traditions but improving the situation together. We’re not there to get anyone in trouble; we’re there to protect a species and a way of life. These are balanced, empathetic conversations that take time, but over the years, many communities have become true partners and protectors of the turtles.”
By building trust through dialogue, FBC is strengthening both wildlife protection and community resilience across the Middle Magdalena Valley.
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