Hacienda Pinzacuá: An Example of Regenerative Agriculture Amidst a Transformed Landscape in the Colombian Andes

Abstract

The central Andes of Colombia is a region of high biodiversity that has been intensely transformed, mostly by unsustainable agricultural practices, and especially by extensive cattle grazing. Whereas cattle farms are often considered ecological deserts, cattle production can be approached in a different way: by integrating more trees into the pastures, introducing better animal management practices, and restoring protective forests, so that productivity, biodiversity, and the flow of ecosystem services can be positively impacted. In this case study, we describe the agroecological transformation of Hacienda Pinzacuá, a 45-hectare farm that has become an island of regenerative agriculture amidst a highly fragmented landscape. We explain how the farm’s land use history led to the severe degradation of its once fertile soils; how key land management decisions were made and gradually implemented through trial and error; and the significant land cover changes that occurred over 20 years of transformation. We also provide data on how these changes have impacted productivity, biodiversity, and ecosystem services to illustrate how conservation and production can work synergistically to transform the land and the people. Today Pinzacuá stands out as an island of vegetation in an otherwise treeless landscape and has become a high-quality matrix that serves as habitat or refuge for a variety of taxa striving to persist in this fragmented landscape. Finally, we reflect on the challenges faced along the process, and the prospects for maintaining Pinzacuá as both an island of biodiversity and an example for other farmers seeking more resilient productive alternatives.