In Colombia, restoration processes have become increasingly important as a way to reverse, control and compensate the advance of deforestation. In this sense, the beginning of the process of updating the platform for monitoring restoration actions of the National Forest Information System (SNIF) is very relevant because it will allow to know in a dynamic way, the national progress before the National Development Plan. It will also facilitate the monitoring of actions to address climate change and the protection of biodiversity in Colombia.
During the second semester of 2024, the IKI Interfaz and IKI SolNatura projects developed a series of Dialogues on climate change and biodiversity monitoring – Monitoring Ando (see news). These spaces allowed us to recognize opportunities for inter-institutional articulation to strengthen monitoring systems and tools. These systems support the monitoring of actions to counteract the negative impacts of a changing climate, generate resilience and address biodiversity in an integrated manner.
Among these opportunities for articulation, the German Development Cooperation – GIZ Colombia, through the IKI Interfaz, IKI SolNatura and Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) Implementation projects, began accompanying the Institute of Hydrology, Meteorology and Environmental Studies (Ideam) and the Colombian Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (Minambiente) to rethink and update the restoration module of the National Forest Information System (SNIF). Based on a proposed structure of Ideam’s Ecosystems and Environmental Information Sub-Directorate and the National Strategic Roundtable on Restoration, participatory spaces for collective construction have been developed. These spaces have laid the groundwork for a robust, innovative and visionary design aimed at monitoring integral socio-ecological restoration as a measure of adaptation to climate change. This initiative is framed as one of the Nature-Based Solutions, which generates co-benefits in climate mitigation and contributes to the implementation of the Biodiversity Action Plan (PAB Colombia 2030) and the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDC).
After several workshops, roundtables and exchanges, a conceptual framework has been consolidated and taken by an interdisciplinary team as the basis for the design, development and implementation of the SNIF restoration module. This consultancy began its support at the end of August 2025 and for one year will support Ideam and the entities involved, to build together a technological solution that responds to the multiple challenges that come with the implementation of this module. To date, two workshops have been held with national entities: the initial workshop on October 22, 2025 and a second one on November 12, 2025, with the objective of refining the requirements of the module and sharing the advances in the advanced design. The proceedings of the workshops can be reviewed here
The road continues, new spaces for participatory construction will be created; working groups for validation and the involvement of other stakeholders. Likewise, alliances and agreements will be promoted to promote interoperability between existing systems and, above all, the appropriation of the flow of data and information to support decision-making on restoration as a strategic process at the national level, with local application and global impact.
If your project is interested in participating and contributing to this process, you can contact us through the IKI Colombia Network. The IKI Interface and IKI SolNatura projects are implemented on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Climate Protection, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety (BMUKN) within the framework of the International Climate Initiative (IKI).