“Los Clavelitos”: A Colombian Success Story in Oil Palm Conservation

by: Juan Camilo Plazas Ovalle

Colombian-based Hacienda La Cabaña is one of the nine oil palm companies that came together to bring the sustainable conservation and protection project, “Los Clavelitos” to life. This initiative was awarded the Leadership in Conservation Award of the RSPO Excellence Awards during the RSPO Annual Roundtable Conference (RT) 2024 held in Bangkok, Thailand, last November 2024.

For over six decades, Hacienda La Cabaña has been recognised for being a pioneer in hybrid palm planting, resulting from interspecific crossing between African and American oil palm, making it a disease-resistant variety.

Together with the palm companies Guaicaramo, Inparme, Inversiones Palmarosa, Inversiones Los Maracos, Inversiones Brisa Verde, Bellacruz del Llano, Unipalma, and Agroince, coordinated by Asohumea and Bio D, they united around a common dream called Los Clavelitos, a sustainable initiative that reminds us that teamwork leads to the path of success.

Located in Colombia, in the municipality of Ubalá, Los Clavelitos encompasses an area of 403 hectares of Andean forest, a region of great ecological importance due to its water sources and rich biodiversity. This exemplary collaborative effort involves local communities, government entities, universities, and NGOs.

The main goal of the Los Clavelitos project is to expand the conservation area and ensure that the participating palm companies generate a net positive impact, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future through the preservation and recovery of biodiversity in the watershed areas that supply the region.

The project implements strategies based on baseline studies for the restoration of degraded areas, conservation of epiphytes, phenological studies of native species, and monitoring of fauna and flora, among other activities. Los Clavelitos is currently in the process of being registered as a Natural Reserve of Civil Society with the Colombian government.

We recently had an insightful conversation with Alejandro Rozo, Deputy Manager of Hacienda La Cabaña, who shared  that the exceptional results of this initiative are the product of a collective effort where learning comes from closing communication gaps between palm companies and aligning towards a common goal.

Could you tell us about the Los Clavelitos project and how it started?

The Los Clavelitos conservation and restoration project began as a compensation requirement for Hacienda La Cabaña, following the criteria and guidelines of the RSPO. After analysing the land-use change in our plantations, we identified, through RSPO platforms, the necessary compensation area to achieve our sustainability certification. In searching for alternatives to meet these criteria, we found the Los Clavelitos land, located in the upper area of the watersheds that supply our plantations. This land, much larger than what we needed, provided us with the opportunity to involve other palm companies in a joint effort, thus amplifying our positive impact on local ecosystems. In summary, although it arose from a requirement, it evolved and expanded to include eight additional companies, turning Los Clavelitos into a much more ambitious, articulated sustainability project.

What benefits has the Los Clavelitos project delivered?

The project has allowed us to identify the environmental and social baseline of the area and its communities, as well as its ecosystems. We have documented the biotic characteristics of the fauna and flora, while also understanding the needs of the local communities. Since it is a rural area that is hard to access, we’ve had the opportunity to help improve infrastructure, supporting the local business school and the community in general through training and some basic supplies to improve their living conditions.

What were the main challenges you’ve faced during this project’s implementation?

The challenges are numerous. The main one is accessing the land, as it is located in a mid-mountain area without roads, which means we have to access it on horseback or mule. This supports conservation, but it makes executing activities difficult. We’ve also been challenged by the area’s lack of infrastructure; there was practically only one house, which we had to rebuild, and it lacked basic services like electricity. However, we have managed to overcome these difficulties thanks to the joint effort of all the involved palm companies, which has allowed us to be more cost-effective and efficient.

What innovative practices have been implemented in the project?

It is crucial to highlight the unity of all the companies and the coordination achieved by Asohumea and Bio D (organisations responsible for irrigation district management and activity coordination, and follow-up coordination, respectively), which facilitate an efficient execution of daily activities. Aligning all the involved companies has not been easy, but we have learned to manage the wear and tear this entails, in terms of travel and time. Our group of nine palm companies worked together to achieve a common goal; we have done this very well, and this collaboration is our main innovation. In terms of activities, we use camera traps and monitoring systems, as well as satellite tools to assess vegetation cover. We are also collaborating with universities to develop projects that benefit the ecosystem.

How do you see the “Los Clavelitos” project in a few years?

We envision Los Clavelitos as a civil society reserve area. We are in the process of registering it with Colombian authorities and are determined and interested in expanding the project, aiming to acquire adjacent land to reach approximately 10,000 hectares of conservation in the next ten years. We are very optimistic about the project’s growth and the positive impact it can generate.

What advice would you give to other companies and organisations that wish to implement similar initiatives?

My advice would be that while it is important to consider costs, the key is to maintain the determination to act and achieve results. We, as part of the palm agroindustry sector, must continue to demonstrate the sustainability of our activities through tangible results. I also call for unity because together we achieve more and can significantly advance to improve the sector’s reputation.

Finally, tell us about the recognition you received during RSPO’s flagship event, the Roundtable Conference (RT) 2024. What does this recognition mean to you?

For us, it is an honour to have received recognition from RSPO for conservation, although that was not our primary goal. Our aim was to raise awareness of the project and the activities we have undertaken. It is a significant achievement that highlights the collective effort of a group of palm growers who, on paper, could be considered competitors. 

Through this recognition, we managed to show that we can work together towards a common goal, although we were not effectively communicating the initiative. Then, an opportunity arose to elevate the topic during the Colombian Palm Congress, and we expressed our concern to RSPO about how we could make our project more visible, and the organisation suggested that we participate in this call. We followed the procedure, and fortunately, we won. We also achieved the goal of raising awareness of the joint effort and unity we have achieved through the Los Clavelitos project. This recognition makes us proud, as it represents the commitment of all the companies involved in the work we have done over several years.