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 Recuperacion en zona del Mercado de Bazurto Short description of the intervention The environmental and public space recovery project around the Bazurto Market in Cartagena is a comprehensive initiative aimed at addressing the severe environmental degradation and chaotic urban conditions in this vital area of the city. The Bazurto Market, one of Cartagena's most important economic hubs, had experienced increasing levels of disorganization, pollution, and public health risks due to the encroachment of informal vendors and improper waste management (ref 1,2,5). The primary goals of this project are to restore the ecological health of the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de las Quintas, enhance the quality of public spaces around the market, and improve the overall urban environment (ref 1). Project activities included removal of waste from the surrounding water bodies, installation of protective barriers along the Ciénaga de las Quintas, and the planting of trees to revitalize green spaces (ref 3,4). Emphasis was placed on planting of a variety of tree species, such as Guayacán Amarillo, Ceiba, and fruit trees like níspero and mango. These efforts were concentrated in areas around the Bazurto Market, where green spaces had been neglected or overtaken by informal commercial activities. The project also included the restructuring of vendor locations and public spaces to reduce congestion and improve the flow of both pedestrian and vehicular traffic (ref 5). Educational campaigns were conducted to encourage better waste disposal practices and enhance community involvement (ref 1). Principal problems Environmental Degradation Deforestation and forest degradation Poor water quality Other Please specify other principal problem green space degradation Implementation area characterization Climate Tropical (Tropican rainforest, tropical monsoon, tropical savanna) Ecosystem Rivers/streams Urban or built environment Address 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 https://www.google.com/maps/@10.4132894,-75.5249549,1050m/data=!3m1!1e3?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI0MDkxNi4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D Area description Urban (main city) Type of area before implementation of the NBS Industrial Residential Public Greenspace Area Timeline of intervention Start date of the intervention (planning process) 2020 Start date of intervention (implementation process) 2020 End date of the intervention ongoing Present stage of the intervention Ongoing 2. Objectives of the intervention Objectives of the intervention Goals of the intervention - Restore green spaces in the Bazurto Market area, with the planting of native and fruit-bearing trees like Guayacán Amarillo, Ceiba, níspero, and mango (ref 1). - Conduct Regular Cleanup Operations to Remove Accumulated Waste, including from the surrounding water bodies (ref 2,3). - Educating the community about the importance of green spaces and sustainable waste management, fostering long-term environmental stewardship (ref 1). Key Priorities Biodiversity (conservation and/or restoration) Sustainability challenge(s) addressed Environmental quality Waste management Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15) Green space creation and/or management Water management (SDG 6) Improvements to water quality Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10) Environmental education Implementation activities and NBS focus Implementation activities The Bazurto Market area has become a focal point of environmental recovery, emphasizing restoration and cleanup efforts. On January 5th, members of the Verde que te Quiero Verde Foundation and the Cartagena with 1 Million Trees collective organized a day of cleaning and planting fruit trees in the gardens of Bazurto, considered the "lungs" of the area. This initiative involved planting 10 trees, including species like loquat and mango, following a similar event in December where 27 trees, such as Guayacán Amarillo and Ceiba, were planted to promote environmental awareness (ref 1). In addition, the project addressed the severe pollution of the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de Las Quintas. Over 76,000 cubic meters of waste were removed from these water bodies, significantly improving their environmental conditions and allowing for future conservation projects (ref 2). Supporting these efforts, local organizations and the sanitation company Veolia conducted cleanup campaigns around the Ciénaga de Las Quintas, involving the community to raise awareness about the impact of poor waste management. Additionally, the District of Cartagena announced the recovery of two lanes of Pedro de Heredia Avenue, previously occupied by informal vendors, to improve urban mobility and public space around the market. (ref 3,4). 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 Knowledge creation and awareness raising Educational and awareness raising programs 3. NBS domains, ES and scale NBS domain and interventions Ecological domain(s) where the NBS intervention(s) is/are implemented Blue infrastructure Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries In-land wetlands, peatlands, swamps, and moors Parks and urban forests Pocket parks/neighbourhood green spaces Amenities offered by the NBS Unknown Design elements for well-being None of the above Services Expected ecosystem services delivered Regulating services Mediation of smell / noise / visual impacts Cultural services Social and community interactions Scale Spatial scale Micro-scale: District/neighbourhood level Beneficiaries Demographics in implementation area The population around the Bazurto Market in Cartagena is diverse and integral to the city's socio-economic fabric. The market itself, serving as both a public market and the main wholesale center, attracts a large flow of people from various socio-economic backgrounds, reflecting its importance as a key source of employment and commercial activity for many Cartageneros. The market is situated in a strategically congested area of the city, bordered by Avenida Pedro de Heredia and Avenida del Lago, and adjacent to the Ciénaga de La Quintas. It is embedded within five neighborhoods—Pie de la Popa, Barrio Chino, Martínez Martelo, El Prado, and La Quinta—each contributing to and impacted by the market's bustling activity. These neighborhoods are characterized by a mix of residential, commercial, and informal sectors, where many residents rely on the market for both their livelihoods and daily needs. The area around the market is often congested, which affects not only mobility and access but also the quality of life and environmental conditions in these neighborhoods. The market's historical role as a central hub has evolved over the years, now serving as a wholesale supplier to supermarkets and local stores, reinforcing its continued relevance in the city’s economy. Despite facing challenges like public space encroachment, informal vending, and infrastructural deficiencies, the market remains a critical commercial nexus, deeply woven into the social and economic landscape of Cartagena (ref 6) Socio-economic profile of the area Mixed income Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts Unknown Primary Beneficiaries Citizens or community groups Specify primary beneficiaries “We took over the gardens of Bazurto, which are the lungs of this area, to clean them and revitalize their soil with new components. Additionally, we planted 10 trees that were requested by the community living around,” said environmentalist Haroldo Rodríguez, director of the Verde que te Quiero Verde Foundation. ref 1 “We have carried out, with the participation of the communities, a commitment to keep this ciénaga in the best possible condition,” said David Múnera Cavadía, acting mayor and Secretary of Interior and Citizen Coexistence. “We also have hope in the awareness that is being generated within the communities, especially those settled along the banks of the bodies of water, who have a deep understanding of what natural heritage is.” ref 3 Marginalized groups Unknown 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 initiative led by the Verde que te Quiero Verde from the city (ref 1). The director of Cardique approved the environmental recovery and navigability of the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de Las Quintas, from the Las Palmas bridge, passing through El Jiménez, to the Bazurto bridge (ref 2). EPA Cartagena reaffirmed the signing of the pact among sector actors regarding actions for the environmental recovery of the Bazurto market and its surroundings. The signatories carried out a cleanup and waste collection, with the support of the Bazurto market management, the sanitation company Veolia, and efforts to persuade merchants, vendors, and market users to raise awareness about the environmental impact caused by poor waste management in that area of the city. Key actors - initiating organization Local government/municipality Public sector institution Key actors - Other stakeholders involved (besides initiating actors) Regional government District/neighbourhood association Citizens or community group Private sector/corporate actor/company Stages of citizen and community engagement On-the-ground implementation Level of citizen and community engagement Moderate Community empowerment or capacity-building initiatives Unknwon Participatory methods/forms of stakeholder involvement (all stakeholders) Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting) Uncommon actors ("Missing actors") Infrastructure & Management Utility companies: water, sewage, etc. Private Sector Local businesses (e.g. stores, restaurants) 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 Yes Please specify the "local regulation/strategy/plan" verde que te quiero verde campaign (ref 1.) Relevant strategy or plan City specific green space strategy or plan Mandatory or voluntary intervention Voluntary (spontaneous) Enablers & Barriers Type of enablers Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships) Please provide details (e.g, name of the plan or strategy) for the selected policies or initiatives. This project was developed through a collaborative effort involving the local government, environmental authorities, and private sector partners. Governace and decison-making instruments Unknown Arrangements for governance cooperation Unknown Barriers conflicts around the occupation by informal vendors from the Bazurto Market ref 5 Financing Total cost Unknown Please specify total cost (EUR) unknown Source(s) of funding Public local authority budget Corporate investment Type of fund(s) used Earmarked public budget Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities) Non-financial contribution Unknown Co-finance for NBS Unknown Entrepreneurship opportunities Unknown Business models Business models Local stewardship model Green health model Which of the involved actors was motivated by this model? Public actor (e.g. municipality) Private for-profit actor (e.g. firm, insurer) 5. Evaluation and learning Impacts, benefits Environmental impacts Environmental quality Improved waste management Achieved improved waste management Green space and habitat Increased green space area Achieved increased green space area Increased number of species present Achieved increased number of species present Description of environmental benefits -Achieved increased green space area/Achieved increased number of species: We took over the gardens of Bazurto, which are the lungs of this area, to clean them and revitalize their soil with new components. Additionally, we planted 10 trees that were requested by the surrounding community,” said environmentalist Haroldo Rodríguez, director of the Verde que te Quiero Verde Foundation. During the day, 20 bags of pruning and solid waste were collected. Additionally, fruit trees such as loquat and mango were planted. On December 21st, this group of Cartagena residents planted 27 trees, including species like Guayacán Amarillo and Ceiba, as a way to teach and raise awareness about the care and love for the environment (ref 1). -Achieved improved waste management: More than 76,000 cubic meters of all kinds of waste were removed from the bottom and banks of the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de Las Quintas. “Tires, mattresses, refrigerators, and other items were removed, embedded in the mud, which, in addition to polluting the Caño de Bazurto and the Ciénaga de Las Quintas, impeded the passage of any vessel,” he said. ref 2. Prior to this activity held at El Lucero Park on El Lago Avenue, the signing associations carried out a cleanup and waste collection day on Friday and Saturday around the Ciénaga de Las Quintas, with the support of the Bazurto market management, the sanitation company Veolia, and efforts to persuade merchants, vendors, and market users to raise awareness about the environmental impact caused by poor waste management in that area of the city (ref 3). Environmental impact indicators Total number of vascular plant species protected or introduced 37 Description of economic benefits unknown Social and cultural impacts Unknown Description of social and cultural benefits Unknown 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 Jairo Barrera, representative and spokesperson for the Association of Stationary Vendors of Bazurto, Asovenesbaz, pointed out that "we are pleased with the act and commitment signed today to keep the Bazurto Market in good condition for the well-being of the entire community." ref 3 Trade-offs & Negative impacts Unknown Please specify Trade-offs & Negative impacts Selected unknown Emphasis of existing social inequalities or injustices Displacement of vulnerable or marginalized communities Measures to prevent gentrification or displacement No initiatives or policies were implemented 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 Please specify the achievements of the project goals The planned activities were completed but the regular clean-up and awareness-raising efforts are still ongoing: - Restore green spaces in the Bazurto Market area, with the planting of native and fruit-bearing trees like Guayacán Amarillo, Ceiba, níspero, and mango (ref 1). - Conduct Regular Cleanup Operations to Remove Accumulated Waste, including from the surrounding water bodies (ref 2,3). - Educating the community about the importance of green spaces and sustainable waste management, fostering long-term environmental stewardship (ref 1). 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 Incremental: shallow; that is, mostly maintaining business-as-usual approaches to adaptation Application of lessons learned Unknown Perception of Environmental Change Unknown 6. Sources References 1. El Universal (2020). Cartageneros se unen para sembrar árboles en Bazurto. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 2. Caracol Radio (2023). Cardique recuperó ambientalmente el Caño de Bazurto y Ciénaga de Las Quintas. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 3. Caracol Radio (2021). Se recogieron 45 toneladas de residuos sólidos de Bazurto y sus alrededores. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 4. Veolia (2022). Comunicado Veolia. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 5. El Tiempo (2024). Atención Cartagena: este miércoles arrancan operativos para recuperar el espacio público que invaden vendedores en mercado de Bazurto. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; 6. Museo Historico de Cartagena de Indias (n.d.). Mercado de Bazurto. Accessed on September 20, 2024, [Source link] [Archive]; Comments and notes Public Images Image planting around the Bazurto Market https://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/2020/01/05/cartageneros-se-unen-para-sembrar-arboles-en-bazurto/ Image clean up around the Bazurto market https://caracol.com.co/emisora/2021/06/05/cartagena/1622926355_181757.html Image planting around the Bazurto Market https://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/2020/01/05/cartageneros-se-unen-para-sembrar-arboles-en-bazurto/
Image planting around the Bazurto Market https://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/2020/01/05/cartageneros-se-unen-para-sembrar-arboles-en-bazurto/
Image clean up around the Bazurto market https://caracol.com.co/emisora/2021/06/05/cartagena/1622926355_181757.html
Image planting around the Bazurto Market https://www.eluniversal.com.co/cartagena/2020/01/05/cartageneros-se-unen-para-sembrar-arboles-en-bazurto/
