Plan de Fortalecimiento de Capacidades y Acompañamiento Técnico a las Autoridades Ambientales en el Diseño e Implementación de Proyectos de PSA, 2020

This effort is part of the Programa Nacional de Pago por Servicios Ambientales (PNPSA), a national program aimed at establishing guidelines, strategies, and tools for the planning and implementation of PSA projects in strategic areas and ecosystems. The PNPSA is based on five strategies: (i) capacity building, (ii) legal framework, (iii) institutional coordination, (iv) evaluation and monitoring, and (v) financial sustainability. The program aims to conserve at least 260,000 hectares through PSA projects by 2022 and at least 1 million hectares by 2030. As part of the PNPSA, the program Páramos y Bosques has developed a guide for the design and implementation of PSA projects for water regulation and quality services. This guide was developed in collaboration with environmental authorities, territorial entities, and organizations working on PSA projects. Capacity building and technical assistance were provided to environmental authorities and entities through various activities, including training sessions, workshops, and technical assistance. These activities were aimed at strengthening the capacities of these entities in the design and implementation of PSA projects. One of the key activities was the accompaniment of the Empresa de Acueducto y Alcantarillado de Popayán S.A E.S.P. in the implementation of environmental investments. This accompaniment was part of the cooperation agreement between USAID and the Páramos y Bosques program. The program provided technical assistance to the company in the design of additional environmental investments for PSA for water regulation and quality services, as established by the resolution 907 of 2019 of the Comisión de Regulación de Agua (CRA). The program also provided technical assistance to other entities, including the Fundación Río Las Piedras, the Gobernación del Cauca, and the CRC, in the design and implementation of PSA projects. Additionally, the program provided training and technical assistance to more than 250 officials of the Autoridad Nacional de Licencias Ambientales in the design and implementation of PSA projects with resources from the investment forced by the parágrafo of the Law 99 of 1993. The program also worked on the design and implementation of the Familias Guardapáramos program, which aims to conserve and protect páramos ecosystems. The program provided socialization and validation of the program with the MADS directions. The program's efforts were focused on the following areas: (i) PSA for the conservation of the Amazon, (ii) PSA for the conservation of páramos ecosystems, (iii) PSA for the conservation of strategic ecosystems in municipalities under the Peace Process, (iv) PSA for the conservation of strategic ecosystems in territories of ethnic groups, and (v) PSA for the conservation and recovery of areas of National Natural Parks with the presence of illicit crops. The program's activities were aimed at strengthening the capacities of environmental authorities and entities, providing technical assistance, and promoting the design and implementation of PSA projects. The program's efforts were focused on the conservation of páramos ecosystems, which are critical for the country's water resources and biodiversity.