One among hundreds of families who have returned to lands once taken and now reclaimed with the help of Sacred Forests, mother of five Adelina Torres Izquierdo journeyed with her kin from the highlands of Cesar to La Estrella in Magdalena - back to where they belong. She met with Project Coordinator Paula Rodríguez to speak of the homecoming.
- Paula: Since arriving, have you noticed changes around you?
- Adelina: When we came, we could not sleep—the air was hot and heavy. We planted two hundred trees. Now we sleep in peace, and the forest sings—new voices returned. Even the monkeys have come back.
- Paula: As an Arhuaco woman, what does it mean to return to this land?
- Adelina: We had to. The land was hurting when we were gone. Now, it breathes again, and so do we. Returning home means we can plant, protect, and live in harmony with her spirit.
- Paula: What message would you give to others—to help them live more in balance?
- Adelina: When we care for nature, she gives us all we need—pure air, waters running clearer. Now, we can be happy. We are not missing anything when we protect the earth.
The project has so far impacted the lives of over 25,941 Arhuacos across 43 communities. At Sacred Forests, we’re demonstrating that the most effective conservation outcomes occur when the land, and her people, are protected as one.
Watch an extract from the interview on our Instagram.
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