The project strengthened the coordination and integration of environmental issues into the national development agenda, with an emphasis on reducing vulnerability of the poorest and most affected sectors because of environmental degradation and climate change.

 Las Piedras river basin originates in the Colombian Massif. Of great importance for Colombian hydrology, it is a tributary of the Cauca river which supplies the water needs of the populations of Popayán and Puracé, as well as farming producers.  In the upper basin, there has been a noticeable decrease in rainfall and summers have lengthened, affecting the water supply for the inhabitants and producers of the basin, causing crop losses and affecting the local and family economy.

In response to these problems, a combined intervention of three good practices focused on environmental protection, productive aspects and institutional strengthening was undertaken.

The environmental protection focused on springs, reforestation and environmental restoration of strategic ecosystems, protection areas for tree planting and agroforestry systems, with the aim of protecting the soil, providing conditions to improve rainfall infiltration, reducing water erosion and land use conflicts, improving sustainability.

Productive management practices were also developed using organic fertilisers and biological formulas to improve soil fertility and control contamination.  This practice also addressed the agriculture-ecotourism interaction as a means of raising income.  As regards institutional strengthening, training was offered on how to set up local and specialised organisations, and how to define watershed management plans.