Ecological Restoration of Severely Eroded Lands in Santander

Landslides and gullies are common forms of land degradation in the densely populated Colombian Andes. Mass movements in unstable areas pose a serious threat to local populations and cause off-site environmental damage through sedimentation, pollution and increased flooding. Road landslides hinder the mobility of people and agricultural products and are a latent risk for local communities in mountain areas. A novel approach for restoring severely eroded lands combines the use of soil stabilization structures with high-density planting of species that exhibit quick growth and sprouting.

This course seeks to increase awareness of the complex socio-environmental problems caused by severe erosion and expand the knowledge of participants on the principles and practices of the restoration of unstable lands. Erosion and mass movements demand the creative integration of disciplines to generate efficient and sustainable solutions. This course is supported by ELTI's Leadership Program through a small grant assigned to alumni Melisa Ayala and Mauricio Carvajal.