Co-learning about interactions of the WEF Nexus in a Páramo ecosystem: a proposal to bring sustainability education to rural communities in an Andean region (Colombia)

During the 2024´s summer, the Colombia-USA Water-Energy-Food Nexus Alliance for the Chingaza Páramo launched its first diploma course, “Caring for the High Mountains: Water-Energy-Food Nexus”. The program aimed to strengthen the exchange of knowledge between academia and rural populations living in the buffer zones of Chingaza National Park to contribute to the conservation of the Páramo from the perspective of the local territory and its inhabitants. 61 residents enrolled from two Páramo buffer zone communities: La Calera and Choachí 20 virtual presentations and 5 in-person workshops were held from June-August, 2024 Participants found that the educational foundations built through the diploma “planted the seeds” and “created linkages” for inter-community collaboration on strengthening local conservation practices