4 steps to get started in landscape restoration

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By Sergio Esteban Lozano-Baez, Ledis Arango Vallejo and Carlos Salazar Salguero, GLFx Tolima

Thousands of meters above sea level in the Central Andes Mountain Range, people are working tirelessly to restore the landscapes of Tolima, Colombia. 

Tolima is a region home to a wealth of biodiversity, yet it’s also highly degraded. 

Cattle ranching, agriculture and urban expansion have all driven deforestation, drastically reducing native forests.

We – Sergio Lozano-Báez, Ledis Arango Vallejo and Carlos Salazar Salguero – founded what is now called GLFx Tolima to help restore our local landscapes. 

For over 10 years, we have been working on and learning from ecosystem restoration in Colombia and across Latin America. Our work is essential for landscape regeneration and the conservation of ecosystem services that sustain local communities.

Beyond its ecological importance, restoration is crucial for climate resilience in the Colombian Andes. 

Andean forests capture carbon, regulate water and protect soils, ensuring the livelihoods of the communities that depend on these resources. As the climate crisis disrupts rainfall and temperature patterns, it’s more crucial than ever to mitigate these effects by restoring native ecosystems.

Here are four simple steps to successful restoration, along with examples from work we’ve done across our communities. 

1. Design and envision the forest you want

Every restoration project starts with a clear vision. Before planting a single tree, it’s crucial to imagine the forest you want to create: its functions, biodiversity and benefits for the community and ecosystem. This design phase allows you to plan which species to use and assess soil conditions, climate and local needs.

It’s also essential to work with communities. By incorporating traditional knowledge, you can ensure that restoration efforts respect local environments and cultures.

In many farms in Tolima, water sources are at risk due to agricultural expansion and overgrazing. Our team designed a restoration plan for the Manantial Reserve in Villahermosa, Tolima, to expand forested areas and use principles of agroforestry.

Local farmers helped plant native flowering trees and, in doing so, created living fences, natural barriers that provide shade, support healthy soil and improve water quality and biodiversity. Through organized workshops and field visits, we’ve spread awareness of the long-term benefits of restoration.

2. Prepare the land for planting

Building upon the landscape vision and design, the next step is to prepare the land. This includes removing invasive species, enriching the soil with organic matter and mapping out where to plant based on the geography and resources of the area. 

It’s also essential to evaluate available resources, such as tools, volunteers and trained personnel. Proper preparation increases your chances of success and reduces costs and workload in the long run.

Many mountain areas in the Tolima region have been overrun with exotic grasses like Brachiaria, which prevent natural forest regeneration. 

Before planting in the Charco del Indio Reserve, our team manually removed this invasive species. We chose to take them out by hand rather than use chemicals that could harm the soil and local wildlife.

We also used natural fertilization techniques to improve soil quality before reforestation. In some cases, we used agroforestry by planting carbonero trees (Albizia carbonaria) in coffee plantations to provide shade and enrich the soil. 

As such, we combine sustainable production with ecological restoration, achieving both economic and environmental benefits.

3. Hands in the soil – time to plant!

Now comes the moment to put all the planning and preparation into action. During planting, it’s essential to ensure that your selected species are suited to local conditions, prioritizing native plants that promote biodiversity.

Many nurseries supplying plants for restoration projects in Colombia are located hundreds of kilometers away. This can be problematic because plants may not be adapted to local conditions. 

That’s why, at GLFx Tolima, we grow 100 percent of our seedlings from seeds collected in the region, such as guamos (Inga) and cedro negro (Juglans neotropica), ensuring better adaptation and survival rates. These native trees also provide fruits and wood that are widely used in the region for ecological and economic purposes.

We also promote community nurseries, where local families participate in native plant production, generating jobs and fostering a sense of ownership over restoration efforts.

4. Upkeep and consistent care 

Restoration doesn’t end with planting. Continuous care is essential to ensure long-term success. This includes weed control, pest protection and replanting when needed. Restoration requires patience and dedication to create a resilient and functional forest.

One of the most common mistakes in restoration is undertaking a large planting effort and then abandoning the site for months. 

At GLFx Tolima, we conduct at least two maintenance visits in the first year after planting to ensure that seedlings are growing healthily. In the Charco del Indio Nature Reserve, we saw positive results when we checked on the plants for the first time, with 70 percent of the plants surviving.

Another way we continue to care for restoration sites is by actively monitoring natural regeneration and supporting the growth of key species instead of relying solely on mass planting. We follow international monitoring protocols such as Mata Atlântica. 

These four key steps are more than technicalities. At GLFx Tolima, they’ve guided us to dream of a future where communities and nature coexist in harmony. We hope you find them helpful, too.