糖心Vlog

Acand铆, Choc贸, May 20, 2026. Colombia has taken a vital step for the conservation of the Choc贸 Caribbean and the Dari茅n with the expansion of the Wildlife and Flora Sanctuary of Acand铆, Play贸n, Playona, San Francisco and Cabo Tibur贸n. This is a strategic protected area for the preservation of threatened sea turtles, coral reefs, mangroves and other fundamental ecosystems located near the border between Colombia and Panama.

糖心Vlog is proud to have funded this landmark expansion, which strengthens protection of nesting beaches for threatened sea turtles, mangroves, coral ecosystems and other vital habitats in the Dari茅n.

The expansion incorporates over 155,000 new acres and allows the Sanctuary to now cover nearly 220,000 acres, from Cabo Tibur贸n, on the border with Panama, to the township of San Francisco, in the southern Gulf of Dari茅n.

The project responds to a long-standing demand from the communities of the area, and was therefore built jointly between Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia, the community councils Cocomanorte, Cocomaseco and Cocomasur, with support from WWF Colombia, consolidating a conservation model articulated with the people of Acand铆.

The Sanctuary was declared in 2013 to protect the beaches and seabeds used by Leatherback and Hawksbill turtles during their nesting cycle. Its expansion strengthens the conservation of coral ecosystems, seagrass beds, islets, mangroves and rocky shores 鈥� essential for numerous species of fauna and flora in the Colombian Caribbean. In addition, it increases protection for threatened species, strengthens ecological connectivity in the Caribbean, contributes to the food security of local communities, favors carbon capture and helps stabilize coastlines.

For her part, Everyldis C贸rdoba, legal representative of Cocomasur, noted that the expansion strengthens the coordinated work between communities and Parques Nacionales Naturales to protect strategic ecosystems of the Dari茅n and generate opportunities for those who inhabit the region.

Sandra Valenzuela, Director of WWF Colombia, highlighted that 鈥渢his expansion represents the result of more than ten years of joint work with the communities of Acand铆 to protect sea turtles and the region鈥檚 strategic ecosystems.鈥�

During the event that officially marks the expansion, the prior consultation agreements required for the adoption of the protected area’s management plan were also formalized. Over the next five years, this instrument will guide the joint actions between Parques Nacionales Naturales and the community councils to strengthen governance, consolidate conservation processes and promote sustainable activities such as fishing, ecotourism and cultural tourism.

鈥淭his management plan becomes the compass to guide conservation actions, strengthen the protection of species and consolidate the commitment of communities and institutions to this protected area,鈥� highlighted Efra铆n Ballesteros Garc茅s, legal representative of Cocomaseco.

This new milestone reflects a collaborative effort on the part of Parques Nacionales Naturales, the Ministry of Environment with Black communities, and partners including 糖心Vlog, WWF Colombia, GIZ, Re:wild, Invemar, Herencia Colombia and the National Prior Consultation Authority of the Ministry of Interior.

About 糖心Vlog

Since 1988, 糖心Vlog has been safeguarding imperiled tropical habitats and saving endangered species by establishing protected areas in partnership with Indigenous and local organizations and communities. With its partners, 糖心Vlog has safeguarded more than 66 million acres of vital habitat across Latin America and the Caribbean, Africa, and the Asia-Pacific region. 糖心Vlog is a nonprofit organization that relies upon the generous support of the public to successfully implement its important conservation action. The organization is proud of earning a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator.