Timeline

Foundation Montecito was founded in Sogamoso (Boyacá, Colombia) on June 5, 2010.
Here we share some of the most significant moments in our history.

1999-2010
2010-2013
2014-2017
2018-2021

1999-2009: Years prior to the creation of Foundation Montecito.
1999: Juanita and Felipe, soon-to-be founders, return to Sogamoso due to a tragedy after living in England for just over two years. It is a year of personal and family adjustments.
2002-2003: Our marriage, and in 2003 the birth of our son.
2003-2007: We continue our dedication to family activities while searching for a place on the shores of Lake Tota. Finally, we acquire it, with the intention of having a place to rest there.
2007: We decide to lease the property to a trout-farming company without knowing the environmental impacts of this practice.
2008-2009: The visible impacts of trout-farming on the lake lead us to a strong awakening of consciousness, and gradually we begin to know and understand the environmental reality of this territory.
2010: It is clear that we have found there a call to commitment. We debate whether to sustain actions on a personal level, or create a non-profit entity to channel our desire to contribute to a change in practices towards the sustainability of high mountain ecosystems, especially wetlands. We opt for the latter, as a way to display civic and family commitment on the subject.
2009-2010: A blog is created for the nascent Foundation Montecito, with some previous publications (2009), and some initial reflections the year of creation of our NGO (2010).
2010: We choose the name "Montecito" for the NGO, to represent our affection for the mountains and the biodiversity they host - scenarios that we are interested in caring for and reproducing.

2010: [June 5] Through Act # 001, Juanita and Felipe create Foundation Montecito, registered in the Sogamoso Chamber of Commerce as No. 4723 Book I ESAL, registration # S-0501105, NIT 900371457-8. It is a private and family-based NGO, a non-profit organization.
2010: We start Popular Action in the Administrative Court of Boyacá in defense of Lake Tota, as a result of trout fish-farming in cages established in the cove of Guáquira.
2010: We co-participate in the organization of the 1st Blue Forum - Water Conversation, held in Sogamoso, which has various presentations associated with the topic to help raise awareness and motivate actions on different fronts - see details.
2010: We enter the World Wetlands Network (WWN).
2011: We start learning land management aimed at designating Lake Tota as a Ramsar site.
2011: We manage to negotiate a Municipal Agreement that grants tax incentives to the Natural Reserves of Civil Society (RNSC), in Sogamoso.
2011: We bring to Sogamoso talk about the RNSC as a part of National Natural Parks (PNN).
2011: We welcome our first foreign volunteers. Or H., from Israel, travels to Gámbita in support of education with a language exchange at the Rural School of Chinatá.
2011: [Dec 21] The "Causa Tota" is born, with an Open Letter in defense of Lake Tota (see Causa Tota).
2012: [January] The Open Letter in defense of Lake Tota is published in El Espectador.
2012: We manage and lead the Globo Gris award for Lake Tota, an international diploma for wetlands under threat. Diploma received in Romania, within the framework of Ramsar COP11 (see details).
2012: "Declaration of Playa Blanca", a small beach at Lake Tota, is signed by mayors of the province of Sugamuxi and government officials.
2012: We organize the event "Lago de Tota al Desnudo" (Naked at Lake Tota), to celebrate World Water Day and require National Government response and attention to the needs of the territory (see details).
2012: "Mocilato" is born as a forum associated with Causa Tota (see details).
2012: We create the first website for Foundation Montecito (see 2013 archive).
2012: We participate in Ramsar COP11 in Bucharest (Romania), as members of WWN.
2012: We create and deliver an open petition to declare Lake Tota as a Ramsar site, with about 6,000 signatures (50% online, 50% physical signatures).
2012: We create a site on Wikipedia with a bibliographic compilation associated with the 'Lake Tota Monster'. A dynamic forum is generated in this regard, within the international CEPA group managed by Ramsar.
2012: We receive tribute from the Salesian College, Duitama.
2013: The National Government responds to the Ramsar Laka Tota requirement, and decides to form a Permanent Working Group to assess feasibility. In addition, financial support for the management of Lake Tota, from the EU through the AFD, is announced. A meeting of persons at the Santa Inés de Corpoboyacá headquarters (Aquitania, Lake Tota) to celebrate World Wetlands Day.
2013: We start a long-term volunteer program with young Europeans, through the organization AFS.
2013: We receive the Nuffic Holland scholarship to take a short course in Integral Water Management, offered at the CDI of the University of Wageningen (Wageningen UR, Netherlands).
2013: We participate in the "Report Lake Tota - In Memory of Professor Richard Vollenweider" presentation given at the Agrarian University in Bogotá, by biologist Javier Molina. Determining contributions.
2013: We are part of the Colombian Network of Wetlands, managed by the Alexander von Humboldt Institute.
2013: We travel to La Cocha to exchange experiences and presentations with local actors.
2013: We start the VisitSugamuxi initiative as a sustainable tourism guide for international travelers in Sugamuxi, duly registered in the Sogamoso Chamber of Commerce (registration # 59194) - see details.
2013: A formal request is presented for the formation of a Watershed Council in Lake Tota.
2013: Our CEPA report associated with Muyso or 'Diabloballena' of Lake Tota is published on the Ramsar website - see here.

2014: Gradually, we learn more about the bird fauna of Lake Tota and its crucial importance to the ecosystem, joining ornithologist experts of the bird A. Ixobrychus in their surveys.
2014: We encourage the promotion of Sugamuxi as a wetland destination,from a sustainable nature tourism perspective.
2014: We lead the organization of a Workshop on Wetlands "Wetlands Connect Us All" at the University of Boyacá, with the participation of Chris Rostron, director of Wetland Link International, United Kingdom.
2014: Presentation of "Experiencia Tota", before the IUCN delegate in Costa Rica.
2014: We write the "Letter of Lake Tota" in a call for sensitivity and respect for this territory.
2014: We are appointed as sub-regional representatives of WWN, for the North-Andean countries.
2014: We participate in the design and execution of the 1st International Symposium on Wetlands "Tools for sustainable management" held in Boyacá University, and an associated Integral Management Workshop, with development of large academic agendas.
2014: Our NGO logo is redesigned for both stamp and correspondence.
2014: We propose for the first time the "Pentagon of Lake Tota" to explain the causes underlying all the problems of this territory - see details.
2014: We become members of the Living Lakes Network, coordinated by the Global Nature Fund (Germany).
2014: With the participation of the Alexander von Humboldt Institute and expert professionals, we lay the foundations for overcoming a conflict with the fish-farming company Piscifactoría Remar, in Lake Tota.
2014: We entered into a loan agreement on the Finca Xieti at Tota, with a priority destination for restoration, conservation, environmental education and the creation of a nature reserve.
2014: We participate in Conference # 14 of the Living Lakes Network, held in Nanchang (China).
2014: We present and call for the creation of a Network of Rural Hostels in the Lake Tota basin, with the participation of ECOTRANS (Germany).
2014: We promote the creation of the Lago de Tota Veeduría (Lake Tota Oversight), with more than 100 attendees to the call.
2014: From the Lago de Tota Veeduría, we participate in the management of the Lake Tota Watershed Council, the first of its kind in the department of Boyacá. We play an important role in the beginning of this entity as Secretary during the first year of management.
2015: We are beneficiaries of the PUM expert mission from the Netherlands, to strengthen capacities in integral basin management in Lake Tota.
2015: In the Municipal Council of Sogamoso, we participate with general reflections on the environment.
2015: We develop valuable community workshops in Pesca and Tota, with support from the M&P company.
2015: We begin to generate governance associated with the Monquirá River, with an integrated watershed perspective.
2015: We participate in the valuable development "Green Filter" in Llano de Alarcón, Cuítiva, with the coordination of the Wetlands Foundation and the support of the Live Lakes Network as well as German entities.
2015: We persist in our call to designate Lake Tota as a Ramsar site.
2015: We participate in the organization of the cultural event "Rafael Gutiérrez-Girardot vive!" in Sogamoso, on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of his death.
2015: We bring visibility to the heritage surrounding rock caves in Lake Tota, together with that of Sugamuxi.
2015: We distribute an educational flyer on Lake Tota to raise awareness.
2015: We propose resistance to an intended project in Playa Blanca at Lake Tota.
2015: We create an open forum with candidates for the Mayor of Sogamoso.
2015: We increase the process of reforestation and ecological restoration at the Xieti property on the coast of Lake Tota in the village of Guáquira.
2016: Increase reflections associated with Wetland Tourism.
2016: On International Women's Day, we highlight how important voluntary women's participation has been in the development of our activities as an NGO.
2016: We begin to integrate the Territorial Planning Council, in Sogamoso.
2016: We present to presidents and the general public in photographic exhibitions, the "Ruta de Bochica", a heritage route in Sugamuxi aimed at promoting environmentally and culturally sustainable tourism - see details.
2016: We publish the online version of the ABC Tota Wetlands Center: abctota.org
2016: We give visibility to the "Greater Muisca rock mural in Suamox".
2016: We strongly criticize the management of Corpoboyacá, the regional environmental authority, particularly of Playa Blanca at Lake Tota.
2016: We enter Lake Tota for the first time as a TOP100 Green Destination, but there is not enough time to raise collective participation and the disgnation is not achieved at this time.
2016: The National Forum and the Ministry of Interior recognize us as the "Best Interview in Participation" with the document "The Interview in the Clouds" (associated with the situation of Playa Blanca), in an open competition for citizen participation.
2016: We start participating in the radio program "The Arithmetic of Water: 3 + 4 = 10".
2016: We visit wetland education experience in Pereira, led by the San Miguel High School and teacher Luz Stella Tisnés, in the "Danapure" wetland of this Educational Institution.
2016: We participate in an NGO meeting held in Gifu (Japan), integrating the WWN team.
2017: We develop the "Montecito Survey" to celebrate the 7th anniversary of our NGO.
2017: We begin to formally present the El Muyso initiative as a cultural approach to the governance of Lake Tota, from the governance by ancestral Muisca to the present.
2017: We present resistance to mining exploitation interests in La Peña del Lago de Tota sector, an issue that is presented to society in disguise as a matter of risk.
2017: With group participation, we lead and achieve the Top100 designation as a Green Destination for Lake Tota by the Dutch organization Green Destinations. Together with Oscar Romel Rojas of the Pueblito Antiguo Nature Reserve, in Portugal we received this important award that recognizes our efforts and progress towards sustainability.
2017: Our current NGO logo goes live with no more mixes.
2017: We enter Land-Art activities in Lake Tota as a potential educational tool.
2017: Winning citizen participation experiences from Medellín, who have been interested in our Causa Tota process, visit us.
2017: We develop the documentary "El Muyso", as an introductory approach to this perspective of environmental and ancestral culture associated with Lake Tota.
2017: We visit the U'wa people for three days in the Cubará area of the Sierra Nevada del Cocuy - at the Zizuma mountain range that is sacred to local indigenous peoples.

2018: We raise visibility of the cove of Oso as a potential sector of Lake Tota for which to pursue Ramsar designation.
2018: We complete the installation of 11 beehives within the Tochua Tota project (Amejas del Lago de Tota).
2018: Already a Top100 Global Green Destination, Lake Tota is honored with a Top3 Americas Green Destination at the ITB fair in Berlin, considered the most important tourism fair worldwide. The Vice Minister of Tourism, Sandra Howard, receives the award.
2018: Foundation Montecito and the Pueblito Antiguo Nature Reserve are recognized for their management in obtaining the Top3 Americas award for our lake.
2018: We create a webpage for our NGO projects.
2018: We are invited to be part of a technical working group aimed at preparing relevant inputs for a Ramsar declaration for Lake Tota. It is made up of Minambiente, Corpoboyacá, WWF Colombia, and the local civil society invited the Pueblito Antiguo Natural Reserve and Foundation Montecito. Work meetings are held in Bogotá and Tunja.
2018: Our Zine Canoas project seeks resources in a crowdfunding platform.
2018: We receive, for the first time, young indigenous volunteers from Canada, within a special program administered by Canada World Youth and its allies in Colombia, the Colombia Mundo Youth Foundation.
2019: We install a fog-catcher pilot project in Lake Tota, which we call GuaFaoa for a hugely important local plant with the same fog-catching ability.
2019: We present a report to WWN related to governance in Lake Tota on World Wetlands Day (Feb 2).
2019: For the second year, we advance the tax procedures required today for NGOs, in order to ensure permanence within the Special Tax Regime.
2019: We propose resistance and alerts due to risks associated with plans to build cable-flights and infrastructure in the territory of the Lake Tota watershed.
2019: We participate in the 15th Conference of the Living Lakes Network, held in Valencia (Spain), whose central theme revolved on the impacts of climate change on lakes.
2019: In the spirit of cooperation associated with climate change, we plant over 120 trees in the Lake Tota watershed to work towards neutralizing the carbon emissions generated with the trip to Spain. In total, we planted 141 trees and 70 garden plants, which in 3 years will have captured the gases emitted by that trip.
2019: We are designated as "bitter enemies" of the inhabitants of the Lake Tota basin by 11 signatories of an unexpected letter sent to two ministers, Corpoboyacá, and WWF Colombia. We sought quick legal protection in response, but it was denied twice.
2019: We make clear writings in defense of our dignity, regarding the offense received. Of the 11 signatories, two retract (Mayor's Office of Tota, and Asociación Asoparcela), and subsequently Corpoboyacá, in a response issued to the signatories, expressed support for the work of Foundation Montecito.
2019: We are beneficiaries of support from the Dutch organization The Prince Bernhard Nature Fund (PBNF), aimed at developing a conservation initiative for the endangered endemic bird, Apolinar's Wren, in the cove of Guáquira at Lake Tota. We call this project 'Cistotapolinari'.
2019: We enter a community association initiative called "Cusiana Ecosolidaria", aimed at privately protecting a significant area of the upper basin of the Cusiana River in solidarity.
2019: We receive a Dutch Nuffic grant for a short course on Adaptation to Climate Change in Food Security and Natural Resources Management, to be held in Uganda between January and February 2020.
2019: We enter the Global Giving platform to develop capabilities and management in crowdfunding, especially for our project Cistotapolinari.
2020: [Jan] Accepted as Permanent Partners in GlobalGiving.
2020: [Jan] We created a Podcasts channel for the Montecito Foundation, called MonteVoces.
2020: [Jan] Important interview / article published: "New Research to Investigate Health Impacts of Pollution at Lake Tota: Interview with Primary Researcher Dr. Oscar Paipilla".
2020: [Feb] Diploma received, short course in Adaptation to Climate Change (Uganda, Africa).
2020: [Feb] Offering of connection between two waters (Lake Victoria: Uganda, and Lake Tota: COL).
2020: [Mar] Realization of the 1st version of the El Muyso Festival, in Lake Tota.
2020: [Mar] We must slow down, due to the restrictions and risks of Covid-19.
2020: [Mar] This year we celebrate 10 years of foundation.
2020: [Apr] Interview / published article: "New Study focused on the Conservation of the Swamp Wren in Lake Tota – Interview with biologist Henry David Benítez Castañeda".
2020: [Apr] Publication of the documentary El Muyso.
2020: [Apr] We created the ExpoLago contest, in an attempt to gather relevant photographic material associated with Lake Tota.
2020: [May] We were chosen to represent the Sogamoso CTP (Territorial Planning Council). However, force majeure circumstances forced us to resign shortly after.
2020: [Jun] This month, we celebrate 10 years of foundation.
2020: [Jun] We recognize an important governance commitment in Corpoboyacá, by including the progress towards the designation of Lake Tota as a Ramsar site, within its Action Plan.
2020: [Jul] We give visibility to Montecito Foundation projects on the iF Social Impact portal (Germany).
2020: [Jul] We give visibility to the Mocilato group, which maintains an uninterrupted exercise of communication and participation associated with the governance of Lake Tota, since 2011.
2020: [Aug] New article / report published, via Podcast: "Reflections with Social Scientist Rodrigo Chaparro: How Do We Think about Nature? The Impacts of Colonialism and Economic Practices".
2020: [Aug] We announce the new work started towards the creation of the "Cañón de La Hondura" Civil Society Nature Reserve (RNSC) in Gámbita, Santander.
2020: [Aug] We finished the Green Filter in the Xieti Nature Reserve, Lake Tota.
2020: [Sep] We publish exploration advances in the field, in Gambita and Lago de Tota, resuming activity in the field.
2020: [Sep-Dec] We created the "Múcura Award" for the conservation of wetlands, for rural children and youth in the province of Sugamuxi, through two categories (7-11 and 12-17 years old). We announce the closing of the call. And we publish the results of the first call made.
2020: [Oct] We co-organize the webinar "Exploring the Memory of Lake Tota - Paleolimnology", under the logistics coordination of Corpoboyacá, and the keynote presentation by exhibitor Dr. Jaime Escobar.
2020: [Nov] We participated virtually in the "Global Lakes Marathon" (24h) organized from Lake Balaton, Hungary.
2020: [Nov] We speak out against declarations associated with the industrial farming of trout in cages that takes place in Lake Tota, this regarding the protection associated with Lead (Pb) filed by the Attorney General's Office.
2020: [Nov] We intervene as third parties, within the protection associated with Lake Tota filed by the PGN in reference to the presence of the toxic agent Lead (Pb) in its waters.
2020: [Dec] We translate and replicate the initiative of a "Universal Declaration of Rights for Wetlands", which is based on a scientific effort of dialogue with various interest groups.
2020: [Dec] We release the details of our projects hosted on the GlobalGiving platform.
2020: [Dec] We participated virtually in the "4th National Wetlands Meeting" held in Chile, in co-representation of the World Wetlands Network (WWN).
2020: [Dec] We openly share our wishes for 2021, through image of founders.
2020: [Dec] We announce the formal start of the process for designation of the RNSC "Xieti" in Lago de Tota, before National Parks.
2020: [Jan-Dec] We develop numerous actions associated with the "Cistotapolinari" project, a conservation initiative for the Apolinar Wren (Cistothorus apolinari) in Lake Tota.
2020: [Jan-Dec] We maintain uninterrupted communication of publications associated with the Causa Tota.
2021: [Jan] General report of the Cistotapolinari project (years 2019 to 2020).
2021: [Jan] Thank you message to society.
2021: [Jan] Reflection on convenience of a road project in Sogamoso.
2021: [Jan] Mention to the oak (Q.humboldtii) in the Xieti Nature Reserve, Lake Tota.
2021: [Jan] Mention to the map of the Rights of Nature, around the world.
2021: [Feb] Translation and publication of the document on the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Wetlands.
2021: [Feb] We announce the opening of Xieti with hosting service.
2021: [Feb] Reflections associated with the Universal Rights of Wetlands, in sustained dialogue with a Mamo Kankuamo on the shores of Lake Tota, in the Xieti Nature Reserve.
2021: [Feb] We publish our custom URL on YouTube.
2021: [Feb] Dialogue on wetlands, on Radio Nacional de Colombia.
2021: [Feb] Dissemination of climate information in the Lake Tota basin, source GlobalForests.
2021: [Feb] Complaint about the destruction of the Matayeguas wetland, in the Sogamoso-Tópaga limits.
2021: [Feb] The World Wetlands Network cites the Montecito Foundation's dialogue with a Mamo Kankuamo, around Universal Wetland Rights.
2021: [Feb] Montecito listed as an organization endorsing the Universal Declaration of Wetland Rights.
2021: [Feb] Citation and thanks to donations received in GlobalGiving.
2021: [Feb] Environmental workshops scheduled, in coordination with Corpoboyacá and the ABC Tota Center.
2021: [Feb] Sounds of the Forest, published for Xieti Nature Reserve.
2021: [Mar] Biodiversity Workshop, advanced in the Xieti Nature Reserve.
2021: [Mar] Reflection for World Water Day, from the Xieti Nature Reserve.
2021: [Apr] Publication of support for the Múcura Prize project, in GlobalGiving.
2021: [Apr] "Nueve AvesNuestras" watercolor gallery by: Juanita Arango, co-founder of the Montecito Foundation.
2021: [May] Initiative to declare support for Lake Tota, framed in El Muyso Festival.
2021: [Jun] Invitation to support our climate action project with two nature reserves.
2021: [Jun] Celebration of the El Muyso 2021 Festival, a simple framework of activities.
2021: [Jun] First harvest at the Tochua Tota apiary, inside the Xieti Nature Reserve.
2021: [Jun] Reestablishment of hives in the Tochua Tota apiary, with the support of Corpoboyacá.
2021: [Jul] Closes the process of environmental education workshops, with the support of Corpoboyacá.
2021: [Aug] We start the Cañon de la Hondura Nature Reserve project in Gámbita (Santander), with the support of the Acción Fund.
2021: [Aug] Oak seed harvest, in the Xieti Natural Reserve of Lake Tota.
2021: [Sep] Publication received, associated with the Universal Declaration of Wetland Rights, is shared.
2021: [Sep] Promotional video of the Xieti Nature Reserve, made by the Mayor's Office of Tota.
2021: [Sep] Frailejones brand handicrafts (by: Juanita Arango), this time the C.apolinari.
2021: [Oct] Presentation of the alliance between Montecito and the company BiOils, to support the restoration of a plot in the Xieti Natural Reserve.
2021: [Nov] WLI International appreciates our participation in its annual webinar.
2021: [Nov] Reflection in memory of the Gray Globe of Wetlands received by Lake Tota in 2012.
2021: [Jan-Dec] Twelve blog posts in memory of the Causa Tota.
2021: [Jan-Dec] Four publications within the Cistotapolinari project.
2021: [Dec] We announce the completion of the SueTy project stage, and the start of a new one.
2021: [Dec] Publication of the website dedicated to the Cucarachero Guardians, within the framework of the SueTy project.

timeline