Laguna Verde, a sacred lake in Colombia, faced a severe threat from overtourism, with daily visitors reaching up to 1,500, leading to significant pollution and environmental degradation. In response, indigenous leaders from the Pasto community took decisive action by closing the lake and its surrounding 7,503-hectare reserve in September 2017, a decision that was officially approved in 2018. Since then, the area has undergone extensive cleaning and restoration, returning it to a pristine state [320938ad].
The Pasto community has established an indigenous guard that not only patrols the area but also performs traditional rituals to protect the site. This initiative has garnered attention and will be highlighted at the upcoming COP16 conference in Cali, starting October 20, 2024. The European Union has invited members of the indigenous guard to discuss sustainable tourism practices, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural and environmental integrity in tourist destinations [320938ad].
Diego Fernando Bolanos, an advocate for sustainable tourism, has called for a study on the lake's carrying capacity, suggesting that visitor numbers should be limited to between 10 and 20 per day. This approach aims to balance the need for tourism with the preservation of Laguna Verde's ecological and cultural significance [320938ad].
This proactive management by the Pasto community serves as a model for other regions facing similar challenges with overtourism. Their efforts highlight the critical role that indigenous knowledge and leadership can play in environmental conservation and sustainable tourism [320938ad].