In Colombia, ASOFODEMA obtains the first FSC® certification for an Afro-descendant community organization

On November 28, 2025, the Sustainable Forest Association for Community Development of the Middle Atrato (ASOFODEMA) became the first community-based organization in Colombia and the first Afro-descendant organization in South America to obtain FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council) certification. This historic milestone, achieved with the technical support of ONF Andina, recognizes a community-based forest management model founded on the conservation of natural forests, the responsible use of resources, and the strengthening of livelihoods in Middle Atrato communities.

Driven by more than seven years of collective effort, the process brings together nine local community councils and 150 families around the sustainable management of over 20,000 hectares of natural forest, in one of Colombia’s most biodiverse regions. This recognition attests not only to the high technical standards of the model implemented, but above all to the deep commitment of communities to preserving their territory and sustainably enhancing their forest resources.

The FSC® certification now grants ASOFODEMA access to differentiated markets and demonstrates that community forestry is a credible pathway toward sustainable development and territorial peace.

ASOFODEMA was established in 2023 as part of the project “Unión Natural, committed to the territory,” launched in 2018 with the support of the French Facility for Global Environment (FFEM), the French Development Agency (AFD), Colombia’s Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development (MinAmbiente), Fondo Acción, ONF Andina, and the Major Community Council of the Integral Peasant Association of Atrato (COCOMACIA). The project was later strengthened by support from the Colombia in Peace Fund, through the Colombia Sostenible program — funded by the IDB — as well as by the European Union through the IDeas DeSIRA project.

With the ongoing technical support of ONF Andina, the process has confirmed that responsibly managed forests can simultaneously serve as a conservation tool, a source of income, and a driver of dignity for communities. Today, ASOFODEMA is a strengthened organization, capable of processing and marketing timber from sustainably managed forests, in compliance with international standards.

For ASOFODEMA, FSC® certification is not an end in itself, but the beginning of a new phase. It symbolizes a lasting commitment to forests, respect for standards, and the transmission of this heritage to future generations.