Colombia’s largest marsh ecosystem, the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta (CGSM), has experienced substantial erosion since the 1950s, when a highway was constructed along Salamanca Island. The Government of Colombia has proposed to refurbish and expand the highway to make it more resilient to coastal erosion and sea level rise, and to accommodate increased vehicle traffic. The proposal was a conventional “gray” design.
Working with local partners (Tras La Perla, INVEMAR, and Uniandes), Conservation International developed a design to widen the highway while also improving the hydrologic connection between the marsh and the ocean and restoring and protecting the mangroves and sand dunes of the region. The presented alternative would not only result in a highway capable of fulfilling the requirements of increased traffic but also bring additional benefits to people and nature.
Guiding principle #4 Avoiding Environmental Impacts and Investing in Nature, from the International Good Practice Principles for Sustainable Infrastructure.
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