Concepto técnico para el registro del predio EL CARARE II como Reserva Natural de la Sociedad Civil, Dagua, Valle del Cauca

The reserve is situated in the Corregimiento El Salado, Vereda La Balastrea, and covers an area of 8.8 hectares. The reserve is situated at an elevation of 1330 meters above sea level, with coordinates 3° 35' 23.49'' N and 76° 42' 18.72'' O. The reserve is characterized by a Bosque Medio Seco en Montaña Fluviogravitacional (BOMSEMH) ecosystem, which is a type of dry forest found in the mountainous regions of Colombia. The reserve is home to a variety of plant species, including otobo, palmas, cucharos, mamey, jigua, nogal cafetero, mortiño, higuerón, carbonero, and arrayán. The reserve also has a small stream, the quebrada Santa Rosa, which supplies the local water supply. The reserve has a long history of human activity, with the first recorded owner being Antonio Guali Pérez, who acquired the land through a government auction in 1961. The land was later acquired by Esneda Escobar Llanos, who sold it to Humberto Domínguez Escobar in 2005. Humberto Domínguez has expressed his intention to maintain the reserve in a state of natural regeneration, which has generated support from the local community due to the reserve's importance for water supply. The reserve is also home to a variety of economic activities, including extensive cattle grazing, pastures, and crops such as maize, beans, and plantains. The reserve is also used for small-scale agriculture, including a guadual for timber production. The reserve's location in a region with high conservation value makes it an important area for biodiversity conservation. The reserve's ecosystem is characterized by a high level of endemism, with many plant and animal species found only in this region. The reserve's conservation is also important for maintaining the region's water supply and preventing activities such as hunting and logging. The reserve's zonation plan proposes three areas: a conservation zone, an agrosystem zone, and an intensive use zone. The conservation zone would cover 60% of the reserve, while the agrosystem zone would cover 20% and the intensive use zone would cover 20%. The reserve's services and benefits include water supply, biodiversity conservation, and ecosystem services. The reserve's registration process was initiated in 2012, with the support of the Corporación Autónoma Regional del Valle del Cauca (CVC) and the Fundación Gaia. The reserve's registration was approved in 2013, and it was declared a Reserva Natural de la Sociedad Civil (RNSC) by the CVC. The reserve's registration is an important step in its conservation, as it provides legal protection and recognition of its conservation value.