Nature Positive Cities Efforts to Advance the Tranistion Barranquilla 2025

Key initiatives 1The Mallorquin Swamp Ecopark The Mallorquín Swamp Ecopark restores and conserves the biodiversity of this strategic urban coastal ecosystem, creating an ecological, recreational and cultural space for the local community. The park is organized into complementary functional zones connected by wooden pedestrian paths built on stilts, which protect 298.4 hectares (ha) of mangrove cover. These mangroves play a key role in water regulation, carbon sequestration and biodiversity preservation in the urban coastal interface of Barranquilla. This project incorporated the restoration of Puerto Mocho beaches, where accessible and sustainable facilities – such as pedestrian pathways, rest areas and kiosks – were constructed using wood sourced from sustainable crops. 2All to the Park (Todos al Parque) In response to growing concerns about limited public green spaces and declining social cohesion, Barranquilla launched a transformative initiative: Todos al Parque (aimed at promoting urban well-being, social inclusion and sustainability). The programme has significantly expanded and modernized parks and public spaces across the city, ensuring equitable access to high-quality green areas and strengthening the social fabric. Since its implementation, the initiative has produced tangible benefits such as reduced crime rates, increased cultural participation and a boost to local economic activity. By intervening in more than 350 public spaces, the programme has restored 2.5m² of green and public space and ensured that 93% of households have a green space within an eight-minute walk, effectively democratizing access to healthy, safe and vibrant urban environments. Through these efforts, parks have become dynamic hubs for community life, recreation and sustainable development, demonstrating the power of NbS to cultivate resilience, inclusion and civic engagement. 3Clean and Beautiful Barranquilla (Barranquilla Limpia y Linda) The Barranquilla Limpia y Linda strategy represents the city’s commitment to responsible environmental management and improving the quality of public spaces. By implementing a comprehensive waste management system and strengthening recycling programmes, the city has modernized its infrastructure, improved operational efficiency and cultivated a civic culture centred on environmental care. This initiative has significantly reduced the presence of waste in public spaces, improved environmental health and raised public awareness about the importance of sustainable practices, including waste separation and recovery, as an essential part of urban life. 4 Energy innovation Since May 2018, Barranquilla has strategically positioned itself in the global energy landscape, becoming the only Latin American city to be an official member of the World Energy Cities Partnership (WECP). This membership has catalysed international trade missions and promoted multisectoral development in education, environmental technology, biosciences and tourism, enabling the city to both share and adopt best practices in municipal governance and energy innovation. The district administration has implemented a carefully structured roadmap for the energy transition, realized through concrete diversification projects such as photovoltaic installations, wind energy development and innovative agrovoltaic solutions. This commitment also encompasses ambitious offshore wind projects in the Colombian Caribbean – harnessing the region’s maritime potential, as well as the progressive transformation of the mass public transport fleet, and incorporating natural gas-powered and all-electric vehicles. These measures significantly reduce the urban carbon footprint and pollution while establishing a sustainable mobility model that can be replicated in other cities across the country. 5Great River Boardwalk (Malecon del Rio) The Great River Boardwalk embodies the district plan’s Capital of Spaces for People strategic focus, implementing the Return to the River policy. This urban renewal landmark, with over 70 million visitors since its inauguration, has been recognized as a national sustainable tourism destination for meeting more than 200 sustainability requirements. Its 5km of restored riverside public space serves as an inclusive meeting point open to all, hosting ongoing tourist activity year-round. The space also functions as an ecological corridor for 244 bird species, seamlessly integrating urban development with environmental preservation. Nature Positive: Cities’ Efforts to Advance the Transition – Barranquilla 8