A landmark milestone

A program run by our Cerro Matoso operation in Colombia has celebrated a major milestone, having donated a total of 1,000 hectares of land to its neighbouring communities.  

The achievement was recognised with the latest handover of more than 113 hectares to three community groups, benefitting 127 families.  

Traditionally, local ethnic communities have had limited access to land in the region, so the program was designed to make a difference by increasing land ownership for farming, and to provide opportunities for passing down cultural traditions, practices and values. 

Estela Hoyos, a representative for the La Libertad Indigenous Cabildo community, said her community had always aspired to own its own land. 

“We plan to divide the land, so that each family has their own project on their own plot of land,” she said.

Cerro Matoso Vice President Operations, Ricardo Gaviria, said he was thrilled with the program’s success.

"We are very pleased to contribute to achieving a milestone of 1,000 hectares of land delivered to the communities neighbouring our operation, contributing to their economic, social and cultural development.”