Buying a property in Santa Elena, in 1980 changed the life of Carlos Pineda, who decided not to interfere with the forest but to protect it so he could share it with his family, friends, and visitors.
It was thanks to a local neighbor, who showed him the variety of trees and their benefits for the environment, that he fell in love with the local wildlife and dismissed the agricultural engineer who had advised him to cut them down and replace them with pine trees.
This is how the story of Mirador Cerro Verde begins… With the decision to say “No” to growing potatoes, planting pine trees, and raising livestock, and to say “Yes” to protecting the forest and, by extension, its seven springs—which are vital to the residents of Envigado, Rionegro, and Medellín.
Why protect forests?
- They help maintain the balance of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and humidity in the air.
- They protect the watersheds that supply freshwater to the rivers.
- They regulate the water cycle: they collect and store water to prevent flooding.
- They protect the soil by controlling erosion and preventing landslides and mudslides.
- They help regulate the climate by mitigating the effects of human-induced climate change.
- They are home to thousands of species of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians.
- They are a source of many resources, such as medicines and food.
- They are home to more than 80% of terrestrial biodiversity.
What trees are characteristic of the Cerro Verde Mirador rainforest?
Just as Carlos Pineda once fell in love with every tree, today we’d like to share with you this tour that you can take on horseback or on foot: learn about the characteristics and scientific names, as well as some interesting facts, 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 wildlife and every tree that makes up these 200 hectares of forest.