So they are looking for the construction with guadua to help face climate change in a sidewalk of Cundinamarca

A project in the remote village of Guavio Alto, located between the municipalities of Fusagasugá and Arbeláez in Cundinamarca, is exploring how sustainable construction using guadua, a type of bamboo, can help communities combat climate change. The initiative, known as the Escuela de la Guadua y Cambio Climático, is being led by a multidisciplinary team of researchers and students from the Universidad Piloto de Colombia. Their work focuses on reviving traditional knowledge and promoting locally sourced materials to address environmental challenges while supporting community resilience. The project aims to reintroduce guadua as a primary building material in the region, replacing conventional resources with lower environmental impact. This approach aligns with broader efforts to reduce reliance on fossil fuel-derived products and minimize transportation-related emissions, which are particularly problematic in areas with limited infrastructure. According to the research team, guadua can be processed into a structural material called Gualam directly within the territory, offering both economic and ecological benefits. During fieldwork, researcher Andrés Valverde noted that although guadua is naturally abundant in Guavio Alto, the knowledge required to transform it into usable building components has largely been lost over time. Currently, there are no families actively engaged in this craft. As a result, the project seeks to recover these traditional techniques and establish a renewed local production chain. By doing so, it hopes to empower residents through self-construction methods such as dry-stone walls made from guadua, reducing dependency on costly and logistically challenging imported materials. One recent milestone in the project occurred last month, when university students joined the effort, continuing their support for the community’s capacity-building initiatives. These students have played a key role in facilitating cooperative and solidarity-based models of work, reinforcing the idea that sustainable development must involve active participation from local populations. The use of guadua in construction is not new to the region, but its decline over the years reflects broader shifts in land use and economic priorities. With increasing pressure from climate change, including more frequent droughts and unpredictable weather patterns, the need for adaptive strategies has become urgent. The project’s focus on low-cost, eco-friendly solutions offers a promising alternative, especially in isolated areas where access to modern construction materials is limited. Local farmers and community members have expressed interest in participating in the training programs offered by the research team. They see potential in combining ancestral knowledge with contemporary practices to create resilient housing options that are both culturally appropriate and environmentally sound. The success of the project will depend on sustained engagement and the ability to integrate traditional skills into modern frameworks. Moving forward, the team plans to expand its outreach and document best practices for wider application. They aim to collaborate with other regions facing similar challenges, sharing insights on how to balance conservation with development. The long-term goal is to make guadua-based construction a viable and respected option in the fight against climate change, ensuring that local communities remain at the center of innovation and sustainability.