1. General information Location and description of the intervention City or FUA Cartagena (FUA) Region Latin America and the Caribbean Native title of the NBS intervention Parque Espíritu del Manglar Short description of the intervention The "Parque Espíritu del Manglar" in Cartagena is a multi-zone public space designed to promote recreation, environmental awareness, and cultural identity. The park, which has undergone a significant reconstruction, offers a wide array of recreational equipment and spaces for contemplation in a natural setting. It is divided into six thematic zones: Entrance Zone; Sports Area, Open-Air Theatre, the Tertulia Island, offering scenic views, public restrooms, and statues such as the iconic "Macondo" tree, a tribute donated by Gabriel García Márquez’s family; Children’s Central Zone, featuring a pirate-themed mangrove ship and an Environmental Observation Deck. (ref 1). With the reopening of the park, EPA Cartagena introduced an ecological trail on Tertulia Island, where a mangrove restoration process has been carried out, focusing on plant health and climate resilience. This area also hosts wildlife such as macaws, sloths, turtles, raccoons, and green herons—species that cannot be reintroduced into their natural habitats. (ref 2) The park now serves as an active site for environmental education, particularly for children, with programs addressing solid waste separation, climate change, and the protection of natural resources. Its reopening has also been recognized as a key step in strengthening family-oriented tourism and promoting sustainable urban development in Cartagena. (ref 2) Website of the intervention https://www.facebook.com/espiritudelmanglar/ Principal problems Environmental Degradation Deforestation and forest degradation Implementation area characterization Climate Tropical (Tropican rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna) Ecosystem Mangroves Urban or built environment Address parque espiritu del manglar, Playon Del Blanco, Cartagena de Indias, Provincia de Cartagena, Bolívar, Colombia Cartagena Colombia Location The NBS is situated in an area, with clear delineation of boundaries and a specific shape (polygon). The NBS project can also have more than one area location (more than one polygon, situated close by). Area boundary (map-based) NBS area image Source of NBS area image google maps Total area 20000.00m² Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Public Greenspace Area Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) unknown Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2021 End date of the intervention 2024 Present stage of the intervention Completed 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention - Ecological Restoration and Conservation: Continue restoring the mangrove ecosystem, ensuring the well-being and climate adaptation of plant species (ref 2). - Wildlife Rehabilitation and Protection: Provide safe habitats for wildlife species that cannot be released back into their natural environments. (ref 2). - Environmental Education for Youth: Implement programs to educate children on topics like climate change, and natural resource protection. (ref 2). - Culture: Spirit of the Mangrove Park to become an epicentre of culture, recreation, sports, and gastronomy. And establish Parque Espíritu del Manglar as a gathering place for visitors and tourists to experience Cartagena's history (ref 2). (ref 2). - Recreation: Offer a recreation space to the community and create a space where children and parents can connect with nature (ref 2). - Education: Raise awareness using sustainable tourism (ref 2). Key Priorities Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Habitat and biodiversity restoration Health and well-being (SDG 3) Creation of opportunities for recreation Enabling opportunities for physical activity Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Environmental education What types of restoration goals are / were defined for the NBS intervention? Ecosystem-focused What activities are implemented to realize the restoration goals and targets? Rehabilitate and restore damaged or destroyed ecosystems Restore species (native, endangered, or unspecified) Restore native species Public engagement Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities - Create and maintain the ecological trail, ensuring the health of mangroves and other plant species. Set up proper pathways, signage, and lighting for safety and accessibility. (ref 2). - Complete the construction of new facilities such as playgrounds, football fields, piers, and a nature conservation island (ref 2) - Implement the “Actívate en el Manglar” strategy with fitness stations and guided nature walks (ref 2) - Launch environmental education programs for children focusing on topics such as waste separation, climate change, and natural resource protection (ref 2). - Coordinate with the Instituto de Patrimonio y Cultura de Cartagena (IPCC) to schedule regular weekend cultural activities such as music, theatre, and dance performances (ref 2) Type of NBS project Maintenance and management of urban nature Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks) Urban reforestation, restoration of street trees Ecological restoration of ecosystems Restoration of mangroves 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Blue infrastructure Coastal wetland, mangroves and salt marshes Mangroves Parks and urban forests Large urban parks or forests Amenities offered by the NBS Benches and drinking water stations Playgrounds Sports areas and equipment Educational or biodiversity trails Cultural (museum, concert areas) Educational and research amenities (nature protection centre, monitoring stations) Complementing infrastructure (bathrooms, café) Viewing and outlook points Design elements for well-being Visual elements (e.g., expansive views, scenic views, natural light, diverse vegetation) Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Habitat and supporting services Habitats for species Cultural services Tourism Inspiration for culture, art and design Recreation Physical and experiential interactions with plants and animals Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area the park is located in the Chambacu neighborhood, a place with a long history. The demographics of the Chambacú neighborhood in Cartagena primarily consisted of marginalized Afro-Colombian communities. Chambacú emerged in the late 19th and early 20th centuries as a settlement outside the walled city of Cartagena, housing those who were excluded from the urban core due to socio-racial discrimination and economic inequality. Chambacú was an Afro-Colombian neighborhood in Cartagena, often referred to as a "corral de negros," which reflects its racial composition and the systemic exclusion its residents faced. The community largely consisted of Afro-descendants who were marginalized by the city's elite, as their existence did not align with the vision of a modern, tourist-friendly Cartagena. The residents relied on informal and low-income jobs like masonry and street vending, and they lived in makeshift homes made of plastic and cardboard. Lacking access to basic services such as sanitation, sewage, and education, the community grew rapidly in the absence of adequate infrastructure, leading to overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. Despite these hardships, the people of Chambacú showed resilience and maintained a strong sense of identity, fighting against efforts to "domesticate" or remove them from their homes. As Cartagena's tourism industry developed in the 1960s, the city's elite saw Chambacú as an obstacle to their vision of the city. The residents were further marginalized through negative media portrayals that labeled them as "drug addicts," "thieves," and "violent." To maintain the city’s new image, urban developers built walls to hide the neighborhood from tourists, reinforcing social and racial segregation. Eventually, in 1971, the residents were forcibly removed as part of urban renewal projects aimed at enhancing Cartagena's appeal to visitors. This displacement scattered the community throughout the city, dismantling the social fabric and solidarity that had developed over decades. (ref 7) Socio-economic profile of the area Unknown Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Young people and children Marginalized groups Specify primary beneficiaries Cartagena's inhabitants and tourists. Locals, tourists, and other visitors to Cartagena can now enjoy the magnificent reconstruction of *Parque Espíritu del Manglar*, a new attraction in the city. This park offers a variety of games and recreational activities, providing a welcoming refuge for families and friends who come to relax and enjoy this wonderful destination. "This is a beautiful park that becomes a lung for the city, a wonderful garden where the happiness of children is the most important thing. The purpose is to offer them a space for integration and joy. I know it will become a favourite spot for the people of Cartagena, just as it was years ago," expressed Mayor Dumek Turbay Paz during the reopening. (ref 1 and 2) Marginalized groups Women Measures for inclusion of marginalised groups The Mayor's Office of Cartagena has designated two economic avenues for women associated with the Parque Espíritu del Manglar. - Entrepreneurship Support: The first group, known as the Parque de Emprendedoras, will receive support to market their products, primarily food and beverages, leveraging the visibility and prime location of this recreational and leisure space. - Support for Victims of Gender-Based Violence: The second group, composed of women who are victims of gender-based violence, will be provided with kiosks to help generate income and productive opportunities. Specify measures taken for vulnerable or marginalized communities Implementation of specific programs to address the needs of these communities Other beneficiaries Local wildlife (e.g., birds, pollinators) 4. Governance and financing Governance Governance arrangements Government-led Please specify the roles of the specific government and non-government actor groups involved in the initiative The recovery of Parque Espíritu del Manglar was led by the Mayor's Office of Cartagena. It involved various city departments. The General Secretariat, through its Administrative Support Logistics Directorate, the Mayor's Crew, and the Public Services area, The Public Space and Mobility Management, the District Institute of Sports and Recreation (IDER), EPA Cartagena, the School of Government and Leadership, the Secretariat of Social Development through its Women's Office, the Secretariat of Tourism, the Secretariat of Finance, PES Pedro Romero, the Office of Disaster Risk Management (OAGRD), animal services (UMATA) and the company Esenttia (ref 2). Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Public sector institution Private sector/corporate actor/company Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Unknown Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Community & Social Groups Women or Women's groups Public Services Disaster risk reduction (DRR) authorities Land owners Public space owned by the city Policy drivers NBS intervention implemented in response to a Regional Directive/Strategy Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a national regulations/strategy/plan Unknown NBS intervention implemented in response to a local regulation/strategy/plan Unknown Mandatory or voluntary intervention Unknown Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Unknown Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. local authorities partnerships Governace and decison-making instruments Unknown Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers unknown Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) unknown What is/was the Cost/Budget (EUR) of the NBS or green infrastructure elements? unknown Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Non-financial contribution Unknown Co-finance for NBS Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Yes What entrepreneurship opportunities have arisen from the NBS project? Local crafts or artisanal production using sustainable materials Other Please specify other type of entrepreneurship opportunity women-led small businesses (ref 2). What types of actors are leading the entrepreneurship activities linked to the NBS project? Local community groups/ citizens What types of support are provided to entrepreneurs engaged in NBS-related activities? Access to markets or supply chains Access to specialized facilities or equipment Business models Business models Green densification model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Green space and habitat Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Increased presence and recovery of wild species Achieved increased presence and recovery of wild species Description of environmental benefits - Achieved increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems: With the reopening of *Parque Espíritu del Manglar*, the Environmental Public Establishment (EPA Cartagena) launched an ecological trail on one of the park's islands. This area has undergone an ecological restoration process of a mangrove ecosystem, with a primary focus on the well-being of the plants and their adaptation to the climate (ref 2). - Achieved increased number of species present & increased presence and recovery of wild species: Additionally, it features spaces for wildlife, including macaws, parrots, turtles, sloths, raccoons, green herons, and other native species. The wildlife housed here includes animals that, for various reasons, cannot be released back into their natural habitats (ref 2). Economic impacts More sustainable tourism Expected more sustainable tourism Generation of income from NBS Expected generation of income from NBS Description of economic benefits - Expected more sustainable tourism: The renovation of this sanctuary of flora and fauna aims to raise awareness of the park's tourism potential, which is strongly committed to sustainable tourism and enhances Cartagena's global competitiveness (ref 2). - Expected generation of income from NBS: Six female-led businesses or productive units, with the support of social manager Liliana Majana, the Department of Social Development, the Economic Development Unit of the Department of Finance, and the Social Emergency Plan (PES) Pedro Romero, began operations this Friday (ref 2). Social and cultural impacts Health and wellbeing Gain in activities for recreation and exercise Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise Education Increased knowledge of locals about local nature Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature Description of social and cultural benefits -Achieved gain in activities for recreation and exercise: In terms of recreation and physical activity, attendees at the inaugural event also enjoyed four recreational stations featuring floor games, physical exercises, face painting, and balloon twisting. Starting tomorrow, the "Actívate en el Manglar" strategy will be implemented and coordinated by the Institute’s recreation department. This will include physical activity sessions set to music. Additionally, the "Camínate el Manglar" activity will be launched. This guided exploration of the park’s newly renovated natural trails, internal channels, and recreational areas will be open to people of all ages. (ref 2) -Expected increased knowledge of locals about local nature: Starting this Friday, children will learn about various environmental topics, such as proper waste separation, climate change, and the protection of natural resources through environmental education programs. (ref 2) Evidence for use of assessment Presence of an assessment, evaluation and/or monitoring process Unknown Presence of indicators used in reporting No evidence in public records Presence of monitoring/evaluation reports No evidence in public records Availability of a web-based monitoring tool No evidence in public records Name of any specific impact assessment tools unknown Use of GIS in mapping impacts No evidence in public records Cost-benefit analysis Unknown Transparency Unknown Justice Community satisfaction Positive: The majority of feedback and reports indicate high levels of satisfaction and appreciation for the NBS project within the community. Description of locals satisfaction with the project “It’s a beautiful park. It took the initiative of Mayor Dumek Turbay to bring this park back to the people of Cartagena. It’s a great space for children’s recreation,” commented Luis Zuleta, one of the park visitors. Daniel, a young visitor, said, “What I like most about the park is that big boat, but I still want to try more things. I invite everyone to come and see this great park.” The Ávila Robledo family also shared, “This park is spectacular, a fun place for kids. It has a very welcoming atmosphere.” (ref 2). Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices No information reported related to negative social justice-related impacts of the NBS project Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement Unknown High-quality & Transformative NBS Multiple impacts delivery (climate, biodiversity, just community) No Goal setting and impacts delivery No, project goals were not set, and benefits were not delivered in all 3 key areas. Reaching original project goals Most of the project goals were achieved Long-term perspective Unknown: No information about the project's long-term sustainability. Cost-effective solutions Unknown Equitable impacts C. Unknown Transformative capacity Social change (e.g. social relationships, networks and dynamics within them) Ecological change (e.g. ecosystem functions and their distribution) Magnitude of change Reformist: by focusing on addressing underlying drivers of change but failing to address the problem structurally or systemically Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. Donde Cartagena by El Universal (n.d.). Parque Espíritu del Manglar. Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Cartagena Mayor's Office (2024). Lleno absoluto en reapertura del renovado Parque Espíritu del Manglar: más de 9.000 personas asistieron este viernes. Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. colombiatrip (2024). Parque Espiritu del Manglar. Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Caracol Radio (2024). Reapertura del Parque Espíritu del Manglar en Cartagena será el próximo 26 de julio. Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. EPA Cartagena (2024). EPA CARTAGENA PONE EN FUNCIONAMIENTO CENTRO EXPERIMENTAL AMBIENTAL EN PARQUE ESPÍRITU DEL MANGLAR.. Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Gobernacion de Bolivar (2021). Parque Espíritu del Manglar abre sus puertas a Cartagena y al mundo. Accessed on August 16, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 7. Las 2 Orillas (2021). Chambacú: un corral de negros en Cartagena. Accessed on September 4, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image people visiting the park EPA Cartagena, https://epacartagena.gov.co/web/epa-cartagena-pone-en-funcionamiento-centro-experimental-ambiental-en-parque-espiritu-del-manglar/ Image people visiting the park EPA Cartagena, https://epacartagena.gov.co/web/epa-cartagena-pone-en-funcionamiento-centro-experimental-ambiental-en-parque-espiritu-del-manglar/ Image people walking in the park https://noticiasvital.com/2021/06/01/parque-espiritu-del-manglar-seguira-al-servicio-de-la-comunidad-gobernacion-y-alcaldia/ Image entrance of the park https://vanguardiaeluniversal-eluniversal-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/cartagena/2024/08/28/cartagena-se-reconstruye-para-convertirse-en-la-ciudad-que-sonamos/
Image people visiting the park EPA Cartagena, https://epacartagena.gov.co/web/epa-cartagena-pone-en-funcionamiento-centro-experimental-ambiental-en-parque-espiritu-del-manglar/
Image people visiting the park EPA Cartagena, https://epacartagena.gov.co/web/epa-cartagena-pone-en-funcionamiento-centro-experimental-ambiental-en-parque-espiritu-del-manglar/
Image people walking in the park https://noticiasvital.com/2021/06/01/parque-espiritu-del-manglar-seguira-al-servicio-de-la-comunidad-gobernacion-y-alcaldia/
Image entrance of the park https://vanguardiaeluniversal-eluniversal-staging.web.arc-cdn.net/cartagena/2024/08/28/cartagena-se-reconstruye-para-convertirse-en-la-ciudad-que-sonamos/
