Last updated: April 2025
The “Sustainable Neighbourhood” project is a pilot initiative led by the Public Environmental Establishment (EPA Cartagena), aiming to achieve environmental management and adaptation to climate change for environmental sustainability in the Boston neighbourhood. The primary objective of the project is to transform these areas into an eco-neighbourhood through activities that promote an ecological culture and raise awareness in the community, thereby enhancing the quality of life in the area, particularly since the neighbourhood is situated adjacent to Ciénaga de la Virgen. This coastal wetland serves as the primary recipient of the city’s wastewater and solid waste. The activities included the restoration of environmentally degraded areas such as mangroves, solid waste collection, environmental education activities, recreational activities, and plastic collection. The project employed a participatory approach, with planning conducted in collaboration with community leaders, public entities, private companies, and other stakeholders (ref 1). Additionally, the EPA conducted awareness sessions on the responsible handling of solid waste, proper water use, and energy service (ref 2). the project seeks environmental management and adaptation to climate change for environmental sustainability, Community leaders participate in these activities with the cooperation and coordination of partners, including Afinia, Guardia Ambiental, Aguas de Cartagena, Comfenalco, IDER, Pacaribe, and others (ref 3).
Cleaning of channel in the Boston Project
Caracol Radio, Cartagena Mayor's office
Overview
Nature-based solution
- Blue infrastructure
- Rivers/streams/canals/estuaries
- Mangroves
- Community gardens and allotments
- Allotments
- Green areas for water management
- Rain gardens
- Grey infrastructure featuring greens
- Alley or street trees and other street vegetation
Key challenges
- Climate action for adaptation, resilience and mitigation (SDG 13)
- Climate change adaptation
- Environmental quality
- Waste management
- Green space, habitats and biodiversity (SDG 15)
- Green space creation and/or management
- Water management (SDG 6)
- Improvements to water quality
- Social justice, cohesion and equity (SDG 10)
- Environmental education
- Sustainable consumption and production (SDG 12)
- Sustainable production
Principal problems in Functional Urban Area (FUA)
- Climate-Related Hazards
- Coastal hazards (e.g. erosion, flooding)
- Environmental Degradation
- Deforestation and forest degradation
- Other
Key priorities
Climate action (adaptation and/or mitigation)
Focus
Maintenance and management of urban nature, Maintenance or upgrade of exisiting green spaces (e.g. parks), Strategy, plan or policy development, Creation of city-wide or neighborhood climate adaptation or mitigation strategies/programs
Project objectives
- Adaptation to climate change for the sustainability of the neighbourhood (ref 6), and becoming the first fully-adapted neighbourhood to climate change in the region (ref 4).
- Respond to “The ‘Neighbourhoods adapted to climate change’ (Barrios adaptados al Cambio Climático in Spanish) is a 4C Plan strategy that was conceptualised to prepare the most climate-vulnerable districts, so that they become areas where the community takes leadership of their process of adaptation and plays a role in ecosystem recovery," (ref 4)
- Clean up the contaminated waters of La Ciénaga de la Virgen and the drainage canals, which are polluted by waste from the city, to create a mutually beneficial coexistence between locals and the natural environment. (ref 4).
- Development of a more effective drainage system, recovery of a large area of mangroves along the coastline of La Ciénaga de La Virgen, and restoration of land along the canals to be used as multifunctional public spaces with trees and food gardens (ref 4)
Implementation activities
The project included the restoration of environmentally degraded areas, solid waste collection, environmental education activities, recreational activities, and plastic collection.
This project proposal includes, with the involvement of strategic partners, improvements for these neighborhoods in areas such as: Programs for Efficient Water Use, Proper Waste Management, Comfortable Public Transportation Access, Urban Planning for Alternative Mobility: Guaranteeing urban conditions that support alternative or active mobility infrastructure (pedestrian pathways, bicycle lanes), Road Maintenance and Traffic Signage: Maintaining streets in good condition and providing traffic signage to facilitate vehicle transit, as well as qualified pedestrian pathways and sidewalks to ensure safe movement within the neighborhood. Additionally, the project includes a program to implement urban greening or coverage in the neighbourhood, ensuring comfort and well-being for the community and visitors while they transit through corridors, as well as community awareness programs. The project also addresses aspects such as: Proper Management of Hazardous Waste, Recycling Culture and Circular Economy, Waste Collection Service: Promoting the proper use of waste collection services (ref 6). EPA reported restoration of environmentally degraded areas (mangroves), solid waste collection, environmental education activities, recreational actions, and plastic collection.
Climate-focused activities
Climate change adaptation:
- Restore mangroves, marshes, reefs and wetlands to dissipate the effects of storms and floodwaters
Communities vulnerable to environmental hazards or climate change impacts
Yes
Specification of climate or environmentally vulnerable communities
Low-income neighborhoods, Coastal communities
Main beneficiaries
- Citizens or community groups
- Marginalized groups: Socio-economically disadvantaged populations (e.g. low-income households, unemployed)
Governance
Management set-up
- Government-led
Type of initiating organisation
- Local government/municipality
Participatory approaches/ community involvement
- Joint implementation (e.g. tree planting)
Details on the roles of the organisations involved in the project
This project, led by the Public Environmental Establishment (EPA), aims to support the Development Plan 2020-2023, specifically through the Cartagena Resiliente pillar, via the Environmental Management and Adaptation to Climate Change for Environmental Sustainability program (ref 6). community leaders participate with the cooperation and coordination of partners including Afinia, Guardia Ambiental, Aguas de Cartagena, Comfenalco, IDER, Pacaribe, the Secretariat of Participation, the Public Space Management, the Plan for Good Living, Fundación EntreSeres, District Valuation, Ecopetrol, and the Metropolitan Police of Cartagena (ref 2). EPA Cartagena has private and public allies, The General Secretariat of the Cartagena City Hall, UMATA, Fundación Caminos, YENSHA NGO Corporation... (ref 5).
Project implemented in response to ...
... an EU policy or strategy?
No
... a national policy or strategy?
No
... a local policy or strategy?
Yes
(This project, led by the Public Environmental Establishment (EPA), aims to support the Development Plan 2020-2023, specifically through the Cartagena Resiliente pillar, via the Environmental Management and Adaptation to Climate Change for Environmental Sustainability program (ref 6). it is also a response to a plan for climate compatibility.
The 4C Plan - Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena. This included a vulnerability analysis and adaptation guidelines for Colombia’s island territories, with the aim of strengthening competitivity and sectoral development in the city and on the islands. The 4C Plan - Competitive and Climate Compatible Cartagena considers climate compatibility beyond the traditional divisions of adaptation and mitigation (ref 4).
“The ‘Neighbourhoods adapted to climate change’ (Barrios adaptados al Cambio Climático in Spanish) is a 4C Plan strategy that was conceptualised to prepare the most climate-vulnerable districts, so that they become areas where the community takes leadership of their process of adaptation and plays a role in ecosystem recovery," according to the secretary of the Ivan Castro district planning group (ref 4).)
Type of enablers
Governance innovations (such as public private partnerships)
Financing
Total cost
€50,000 - €100,000
Source(s) of funding
- Public local authority budget
- Corporate investment
Type of funding
- Earmarked public budget
- Direct funding (grants, subsidies, or self-financed projects by private entities)
Non-financial contribution
Unknown
Impacts and Monitoring
Environmental impacts
- Climate change
- Strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Expected strengthened capacity to address climate hazards/natural disasters
- Environmental quality
- Improved waste management
- Expected improved waste management
- Water management and blue areas
- Increased protection against flooding
- Expected increased protection against flooding
- Improved stormwater management
- Expected improved stormwater management
- Green space and habitat
- Increased green space area
- Achieved increased green space area
- Increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
- Expected increased conservation or restoration of ecosystems
Economic impacts
- Unknown
Socio-cultural impacts
- Social justice and cohesion
- Increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Achieved increased involvement of locals in the management of green spaces
- Education
- Increased knowledge of locals about local nature
- Achieved increased knowledge of locals about local nature
Type of reported impacts
Presence of formal monitoring system
Unknown
Presence of indicators used in reporting
No evidence in public records
Presence of monitoring/ evaluation reports
No evidence in public records
Availability of a web-based monitoring tool
No evidence in public records
Potential risks of implementation and trade-offs
Unknown
References
1.
Asociación Colombiana de Ciudades Capitales (2022). Cartagena fortalece estrategia para trabajar por barrios sostenibles. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
2.
EPA Cartagena (2023). EPA Cartagena culmina Jornada Mi Barrio Sostenible en barrio Boston. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
3.
El Universal (2024). Mi Barrio Sostenible, el programa culminado en Boston que ayudará al ambiente. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
4.
Climate and Developmente Knowledge Network (2020). Neighbourhood in Cartagena, Colombia will lead the way on climate adaptation. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
5.
Cartagena Mayor's Office (2023). EPA Cartagena extendería proyecto Mi Barrio Sostenible a otros sectores. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
6.
EPA Cartagena (2021). EPA presenta proyecto Barrio Sostenible, «Ecobarrio». Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
7.
Caracol Radio (2016). Cartagena tiene el primer barrio con diseños adaptados al cambio climático del país. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
8.
SER100 (2022). Un parque inundable y un jardín de lluvia en Cartagena para la gestión sostenible del agua. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
9.
Cartagena Mayor's Office (2022). Se crea primer grupo de Guardianes de los Caños en barrio Boston de Cartagena. Accessed on August 8, 2024, [Source link];
EPA working in the Boston Neighborhood
EPA Cartagena
EPA working in the Boston Neighborhood
EPA Cartagena
Information about this nature-based solution was collected as part of the Naturescapes project funded by the European Union under Grant Agreement No 101084341.