The Magical Power of Art, Science, and Environmental Restoration.

Through diverse forms, art captures the artist’s and the viewer’s imagination and can be an amazing source of expression. The Community and Environment Foundation (FUNCOMA) of Tolima, Colombia, held several events for the local community, supported by a mini-grant from the Lab of Ornithology of Cornell University. FUNCOMA focuses on implementing projects and programs that ensure the preservation of natural resources and promote sustainable community development in the region’s wonderful territory. Here are some of the inspiring events.

Third Villahermosa Scientific Illustration Course and Contest

FUNCOMA delighted the Tolima community by organizing the Third Villahermosa Scientific Illustration Course and Contest. This inspiring program gave children and adults the opportunity to express themselves artistically, learn, and connect with the region’s wonderful nature. Facilitators focused especially on endangered plants and animals unique to the region. The activity also communicated with the Villahermosa community diverse ways in which everyone can participate in caring for their environment now and in the future.

This image gives an overview of the event. It reads the Third Villahermosa Scientific Illustration Course and Contest. The image shows a person drawing a yellow bird.

The program also included practical workshops for participants, where they learned about scientific illustration and colored pencil techniques. Children and adults excitedly learned how to create vibrantly colored illustrations of local flora and fauna.

This image shows a person drawing a big cat indigenous to the Americas. This cat is yellow and has black markings.
Two people are sitting at a table with painting materials scattered, drawing different species of birds.
There is a person facing down at a table holding a red colored pencil drawing a bird. There are colored pencils scattered on the table with drawings of other birds.
There is a person observing their drawing while holding a paint brush. The painting is a watercolor of a green bird.
There is a child looking down as they draw a bird. There is a photo reference on the table of the bird.
A child is looking down as they color with a brown colored pencil. They are coloring a picture of a yellow bird with a brown branch.
There are two drawings of birds. The bird on the left is brown, and the bird on the right is yellow. There are paints on the table.
There is a drawing of two brown birds. The person is holding a paintbrush. There are several colored paints on the table.
There are multiple people in the photo sitting around a table. They are discussing images presented on a projector.

Third Celebration of the Yellow-headed Brush-Finch
FUNCOMA also organized the Third Celebration of the Yellow-headed Brush-Finch. This celebration allowed the community to better understand, celebrate, and protect Villahermosa’s environmental heritage while learning more about the emblematic bird of the region. Several fun, artistic, academic, and cultural activities occurred during the celebration. These included an art exhibition at the Francisco José de Caldas Technical Education Institution, where the community marveled at the art created by the municipality’s youth and children, depicting the exciting nature that surrounds them. The activities also invited the community to discover the species that coexist with them every day in their own neighborhoods. Led by the collective Semillero de Observadores de Aves de Villahermosa (SOAV, The Seedbed of Bird Observers of Villahermosa), participants were able to immerse themselves in the fascinating world of local birds and learned not only to identify them but also to appreciate them in their natural environment.

Ten people are facing the camera. They are proudly showcasing their colorful artwork to the camera.
Ten people are facing the camera. They are proudly showcasing their colorful artwork.
Six people are smiling at the camera. They are proudly showcasing their colorful artwork.
Two adults and two children are facing the camera. The children are showcasing their bird illustrations.
There are two adults and one child facing the camera. The woman in the middle is showcasing her bird illustration.
A man speaking on a microphone by a podium. The winners of the art contest are waiting in the background.

Other activities included highly entertaining educational games about migratory birds. They even practiced recording and editing bird songs. Bird biologist Yahir Molina taught everyone how birds make their sounds and why they are important for their communication. Participants learned how to record bird songs in their environment and how to use platforms, such as eBird, to save and share the recorded sounds. It was an exciting activity that helped children discover and interact with the incredible world of bird sounds.

There are seven drawings of different colored birds showcased. These are the drawings from the first scientific illustrative contest.
There are seven drawings of different colored birds showcased. These are the drawings from the second scientific illustrative contest.

Finally, Danny Gutiérrez, an official from Los Nevados National Parks, gave a presentation to the participants about the importance of protecting the invaluable ecosystems of the Páramo and all they offer.

There are several students in blue uniforms standing around an activity led by Danny Guitiérrez.
There are five students standing around a woman who is discussing the poster presented in front of them.
Several students wearing blue uniforms are sitting in a classroom facing a man who is giving a presentation about birds.
Multiple students and instructors are facing the camera. They are holding a poster titled "Current state of the urban birds of Villahermosa."

Current State of Urban Birds in Villahermosa
Participatory science was also included in the activities. With the support of SOAV, participants took on the task of learning about the current state of urban and peri-urban birds in Villahermosa and how to share the results with the local community. These activities introduced the youth and children of the region to a world of science and environmental protection.

Several children and three instructors are posing and smiling at the camera. They are holding a Villahermosa banner showcasing a bright red plant and a green bird.

Second Regional Meeting of the Seedbed of Bird Observers of Villahermosa
Through the duration of two days filled with magic and discovery, children and young adults had the opportunity to visit beautiful landscapes at the foot of the Nevado del Ruiz volcano “Kumanday.” Surrounded by mountains that reach the clouds, forests filled with fog, and lagoons that reflect the sky, participants were able to explore and connect not only with the songs of birds but also with the cultural, culinary, and natural richness of the region. This meeting was much more than an educational activity; it was a transformative experience that allowed them to connect with the territory, its history, and culture. During walks filled with conversation and laughter, they learned how and why to conserve the extraordinary environment they inhabit. They left feeling enamored with birds and landscape conservation.

There are a group of people holding a banner with a mountains and hills in the background.
There is a group of people smiling and posing in front of the camera, holding a banner.
There is a group of students and instructors holding a banner surrounded by hills.
There is a group of students and instructors posing with a banner in front of "Casa Murillo."
There is a group of people standing on a hill observing the scenery.
There is a group of people sitting and posing at the camera.

Participatory Ecological Restoration in Villahermosa
With support from the Global Landscapes Forum (GLF), FUNCOMA transformed its native species nursery into a learning and knowledge-sharing center! With this support, SOAV developed sustainability workshops with lessons on landscape management to restore and conserve the surrounding environment, placing special emphasis on the challenges faced by native plants and how to adapt to the challenges and qualities of the territory. One of the workshops even involved planting in Villahermosa’s Charco del Indio Nature Reserve and forest nurseries were even created in the mountains.

Acknowledgments
FUNCOMA is grateful for the support and collaboration of SOAV, the Lab of Ornithology of Cornell University, the Global Landscapes Forum, and the Villahermosa City Hall. Thanks to them and the local stakeholders who participated, they were able to raise awareness about the wonderful birds of the territory, create restoration projects with native plants and trees carried out with the participants, and promote their protection in the community.

Photos courtesy of FUNCOMA

Page developed by Diana Palma-Vazquez