The purchase of a farm in Santa Elena, in 1980, changed Carlos Pineda’s life and he decided not to intervene in the forest but to protect it to share it with his family, friends and visitors.

It was thanks to a local neighbor, who showed him the diversity of trees and their environmental qualities, that he fell in love with the local fauna and dismissed the agronomist who advised him to cut them down and replace them with pines.

This is how the story of Mirador Cerro Verde begins… With the decision to say No to planting potatoes, planting pine trees and having cattle, and to say Yes to taking care of the forest and, therefore, its seven water sources, vital for the inhabitants of Envigado, Rionegro and Medellín.

Why protect forests?

• They contribute to the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide and humidity in the air.
• They protect the watersheds that supply fresh water to the rivers.
• They regulate the water cycle: they collect and store water to prevent flooding.
• They protect soils: controlling erosion and preventing landslides and mudslides.
• Contribute to climate regulation: reducing the effects of human-induced climate change.
• They are the habitat of thousands of species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians.
• They are the source of many resources such as medicines and food.
• They host more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity.

Which trees are characteristic of the Cerro Verde Mirador rainforest?

Just as Carlos Pineda fell in love with each tree one day, today we want to share with you this tour that you can do on horseback or on foot: learn about the properties and scientific names as well as some curiosities of the Sietecueros, the Chilco, the Sauco de Monte, the Uvito, the Bromeliads, the Chagualo, the Encenillo, the Yayo and the Tabaquillo.

Fall in love with the fauna and every tree that is part of these 200 hectares of forest.