Fundación Natura

What Fundación Natura does

Fundación Natura is a Colombian non-profit civil organization (ESAL) founded in 1983 in Bogotá, dedicated to biodiversity conservation, ecological restoration, and the sustainable management of natural heritage across Colombia. The foundation operates four biological reserves — Encenillo (203.55 ha, Cundinamarca), El Silencio (171 ha, Antioquia), Cachalú (~1,300 ha, Santander), and Estación Septiembre (2 ha, Chocó) — plus three research centers and nurseries: Centro Attalea (tropical dry forest in Huila), Centro Elsa Matilde Escobar (high-Andean native plant propagation in Cundinamarca), and a satellite nursery in Bojacá. It serves three primary constituencies: (1) private companies fulfilling environmental compensation obligations (notably EPM for Nueva Esperanza and Enel-Emgesa for El Quimbo), (2) Colombian government agencies (regional autonomous corporations, Parques Nacionales Naturales, municipal authorities) for protected-area co-management, and (3) international cooperation funders (GEF/PNUD, WWF, Conservation International) for grant-funded conservation programs. Indigenous associations (PANI, ACIMA, ACAIPI and others) and rural communities form a fourth stakeholder base for participatory governance and territorial conservation in Amazonía and Caribbean regions.

The foundation's core technology comprises proprietary ecological restoration protocols — a Tropical Dry Forest Restoration Protocol, a High Mountain Native Plant Propagation methodology covering ~70 species, and a Sea Turtle Conservation Station protocol for olive ridley (Lepidochelys olivacea) nesting — codified in published manuals and supported by 24 community nurseries. Quantified outputs include 205,270 native plants propagated for Zapatosa wetland restoration, 100,000+ plants for EPM's Nueva Esperanza, 11,079 ha under 24-year restoration with Enel-Emgesa, and support for 34 Small Community Initiatives through GEF/PNUD. The foundation holds ISO 9001, ISO 14001, and ISO 45001 certifications from ICONTEC, and is registered in the UN Global Compact.

Revenue is generated through three streams: (1) environmental compensation contracts with private-sector companies (EPM, Enel-Emgesa, Bancolombia) — the largest revenue anchor; (2) grant funding from international bodies, primarily GEF/PNUD for Magdalena Cauca VIVE; and (3) individual donations and symbolic adoption campaigns (Adopta un Árbol, Adopta una Tortuga, Adopta una Hectárea, Adopta un Tití Cabeciblanco, Donación Libre) via the digital donation platform with PSE payment integration. The foundation runs complementary programs including 'Unidos por los Bosques' (forest conservation), 'Carbono Cero' (carbon neutrality), a volunteer program, and a publications/media operation (podcast, YouTube, annual reports 2011-2025).

Name

Fundación Natura

Legal name

Fundación Natura

Website

https://natura.org.co

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Fundación Natura is a Colombian non-profit founded in 1983 that operates biological reserves, research centers, and nurseries to deliver ecological restoration, biodiversity conservation, and protected-area management for corporate compensation clients (EPM, Enel-Emgesa), government agencies, and international funders across Colombia.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Bogotá

HQ country

Colombia

HQ region

Latin America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Environmental Compensation Contracts: Contracts with private companies (EPM, Enel-Emgesa) for environmental compensation projects including forest restoration, biodiversity conservation, and nursery operations. Projects like Nueva Esperanza compensation involve propagation of over 100,000 native plants.
2. Donations and Adoption Campaigns: Symbolic adoption campaigns ('Adopta un Árbol', 'Adopta una Tortuga', 'Adopta un Tití Cabeciblanco', 'Adopta una Hectárea') and free donations from individuals and corporations supporting conservation activities.
3. GEF/PNUD Project Funding: Funding from Global Environment Facility and United Nations Development Programme for conservation projects including Magdalena Cauca VIVE project and Small Community Initiatives (PIC) programs.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Fundación Natura is a Colombian non-profit civil organization (ESAL) founded in 1983 that develops and executes ecological conservation and environmental restoration projects. It operates biological reserves, native plant nurseries and research centers, delivers community-based conservation and sustainable production programs, and provides environmental compensation services to corporate clients and government agencies in partnership with international cooperation bodies.

Product overview

Fundación Natura is a Colombian environmental NGO founded in 1983, operating a portfolio of biological reserves (Encenillo, Cachalú, El Silencio, Estación Septiembre), research centers (Centro Attalea for tropical dry forest, Centro Elsa Matilde Escobar for high-mountain propagation, and Bojacá satellite nursery), and symbolic adoption campaigns (Adopta un Árbol, Adopta una Tortuga, Adopta una Hectárea, Adopta un Tití Cabeciblanco). The organization also runs conservation programs including Unidos por los Bosques and Carbono Cero, manages volunteer programs, and publishes environmental research materials. The diverse offerings work together to advance the foundation's mission of biodiversity conservation and sustainable ecosystem management across Colombia.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Unidos por los Bosques: Environmental program focused on forest conservation.
• Carbono Cero

Products and services

• Reserva Biológica Encenillo 203.55-hectare private protected nature reserve in Guasca, Cundinamarca, conserving Andean encenillo forests and biodiversity. Offers hiking, birdwatching, research, environmental education, and houses the Centro Elsa Matilde Escobar nursery for high-Andean species propagation.
• Reserva Biológica El Silencio 171-hectare biological reserve in El Retiro, Antioquia, protecting Andean cloud forests. Offers ecological walks, research, tree planting, and wildlife observation activities for visitors and institutional partners.
• Reserva Biológica Cachalú Approximately 1,300-hectare biological reserve in Encino y Charalá, Santander, protecting Andean oak forests within the Guanentá wildlife sanctuary buffer zone and Guantiva-Iguaque corridor. Offers guided hikes, waterfall visits, wildlife observation, and educational experiences.
• Reserva Estación Septiembre 2-hectare biological reserve and sea turtle nesting station on Colombia's Pacific coast in Bahía Solano, Chocó. Focuses on Pacific marine turtle conservation with nesting monitoring from July to October each year and hatchling release programs.
• Centro de Investigación de Bosque Seco Tropical Attalea Research center in El Agrado, Huila, executing a 24-year tropical dry forest restoration project covering 11,079 hectares (4,520 ha active restoration and 6,559 ha non-assisted restoration) under environmental compensation for the El Quimbo hydroelectric project with Enel-Emgesa.
• Centro de Investigación y Fomento en Propagación y Viverismo de Plantas Nativas de Alta Montaña – Elsa Matilde Escobar Permanent native plant nursery at Reserva Biológica Encenillo in Guasca, Cundinamarca, propagating over 100,000 plants of approximately 70 native species for high-Andean and páramo ecosystem restoration under the EPM-Fundación Natura Nueva Esperanza environmental compensation agreement.
• Vivero Satélite Bojacá – Convenio EPM-Fundación Natura Satellite nursery in Bojacá, Cundinamarca, producing native Andean forest species for efficient transport to planting zones, supporting the EPM Nueva Esperanza environmental compensation project.
• Adopta un Árbol Campaign Symbolic adoption campaign supporting Andean and high-Andean forest restoration. Donors receive a digital diploma and symbolic tree planting certificate, with funds directed at native species propagation and reforestation initiatives.
• Adopta una Tortuga Campaign Symbolic adoption campaign supporting olive ridley sea turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea) conservation at the Estación Septiembre Biological Reserve in Bahía Solano, Chocó, on Colombia's Pacific coast.
• Adopta una Hectárea Campaign Symbolic adoption campaign contributing to deforestation fighting through restoration of Andean and high-Andean ecosystems. Donors receive a digital diploma and ecosystem information certificate.
• Adopta un Tití Cabeciblanco Campaign Symbolic adoption campaign supporting conservation of the critically endangered cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus) in Colombia's Caribbean forests, in collaboration with Fundación Proyecto Tití.
• Environmental Compensation and Restoration Services Contracted environmental compensation services for private-sector clients and government agencies, including native plant propagation, forest restoration implementation, biodiversity offset projects, monitoring, and long-term stewardship. Key contracts include the Nueva Esperanza project for EPM (100,000+ native plants) and El Quimbo Phase II with Enel-Emgesa (11,079 hectares over 24 years).

Quantifiable outcome

• 205,270 native plants propagated for aquatic ecosystem restoration in Zapatosa complex
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, core and supporting.

• Fundación OmachastrategicStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2020Joint implementation of DRMI Ramsar Complejo de Humedales de Ayapel management plan and manatee conservation (Trichechus manatus) with CVS supervision.
• EPM (Empresas Públicas de Medellín)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Environmental compensation partnership for Nueva Esperanza project. EPM and Fundación Natura established nursery and research center in Reserva Biológica Encenillo for propagation of 100,000+ native plants of approximately 70 species for high Andean and páramo restoration. Includes satellite nursery in Bojacá.
• Enel-EmgesacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 201424-year tropical dry forest restoration project covering 11,079 hectares as environmental compensation for El Quimbo hydroelectric. Includes Centro de Investigación de Bosque Seco Tropical Attalea. Phase 2 (2018-2038) with 4,520 ha active restoration and 6,559 ha non-assisted restoration.
• WCS (Wildlife Conservation Society)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration in Magdalena Medio region for Carare-Chucurí corridor conservation and community initiatives. Joint support to 8 community initiatives for aquatic ecosystem conservation.
• TNC (The Nature Conservancy)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional collaboration in Magdalena Medio including participation in regional mesa with TNC, WCS, Fundación Biodiversa, Fundación Primates, Fundación Humedales and Corantioquia.
• Corpocesar and CorpamagstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional autonomous corporations jointly managing DRMI Ramsar Complejo Cenagoso de Zapatosa (140,766 hectares) designated in 2019.
• CornarestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerRegional autonomous corporation for eastern Antioquia. Collaboration on DRMI Bosques Mármoles y Pantágoras, DRMI Ciénaga de Chiqueros, and DMI Guásimo management.
• Fundación AlmasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for Zapatosa complex community nurseries (3 nurseries) and cultural knowledge transfer to children, community leaders, and fishermen in Sempegua, La Mata, and Saloa.
• Conservation InternationalsupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational partner organization for conservation and biodiversity initiatives.
• WWF ColombiasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational conservation organization partner for environmental initiatives.
• Fundación BiodiversasupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership for DRMI Ciénaga de Barbacoas aquatic ecosystem conservation and ecological corridor generation in conservation mosaic.
• Fundación Proyecto TitísupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration for 'Adopta un Tití Cabeciblanco' campaign supporting conservation of endangered Saguinus oedipus in Caribbean Colombian forests.
• Regional Autonomous Corporations (CARs)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with multiple CARs including CAR Cundinamarca, Corpoguavio for conservation activities in Cundinamarca and Boyacá regions.
• Multiple Indigenous AssociationsstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnerships with indigenous organizations including PANI (Piine Ayveju Niimu'e Iaachimu'a - Medio Rio Caquetá), ACIMA, ACAIPI, AATIZOT, ACURIS, AATIAM, AATIVAM, ASATRAIYUVA, ASOUDIC, AATAC, ASATRIBVA for territorial governance and conservation.
• BancolombiastrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerProperty donor for Reserva Biológica El Silencio (171 hectares) in 2010. Foundation received land donation for Andean forest conservation.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• WWF Colombia: Colombian affiliate of WWF, focused on biodiversity conservation, environmental policy, and protected-area management across Colombia. Directly comparable as a conservation NGO working in similar ecosystems and partnering with many of the same international donors as Fundación Natura.
• Fundación Biodiversa: Colombian conservation NGO focused on aquatic ecosystems and ecological corridors. Works alongside Fundación Natura in regional mesas and on the DRMI Ciénaga de Barbacoas conservation mosaic.
• Conservation International Colombia: National affiliate of Conservation International operating in Colombia on biodiversity hotspots, forests, and indigenous community partnerships. Comparable to Fundación Natura as a large, internationally backed NGO with simultaneous field projects, indigenous engagement, and corporate/scientific partnerships.
• Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Colombia: WCS Colombia works in Magdalena Medio on the Carare-Chucurí corridor and supports community initiatives. Directly comparable as a long-running international NGO with which Fundación Natura co-implements community conservation projects.
• The Nature Conservancy (TNC) Colombia Program: TNC operates landscape-scale conservation in Colombia (including in the Magdalena Medio region where Fundación Natura also works). Comparable for their joint participation in regional mesas with WCS, Biodiversa, Primates, Humedales, and Corantioquia.
• Fundación Omacha: Colombian non-profit dedicated to aquatic ecosystem and freshwater species conservation (manatee conservation). Direct peer with which Fundación Natura jointly implements the Ayapel DRMI-Ramsar wetlands management plan under GEF Magdalena Cauca Vive.

Broad incumbents

• IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature): Global conservation standards body. Comparable to Fundación Natura in its forestry, land-management, and protected-area mission; IUCN's land-donation helped expand Reserva Encenillo, indicating prior collaboration.
• Wetlands International: Global NGO dedicated to wetland conservation. Directly comparable to Fundación Natura's Ramsar-related work (Complejo Cenagoso de Zapatosa, Complejo de Humedales de Ayapel) on wetland management and conservation policy.
• Rainforest Foundation Norway: International NGO focused on tropical forest protection with significant Latin America presence. Comparable for indigenous-territory governance work (Fundación Natura partners with numerous indigenous associations) and corporate/philanthropic grant funding models.

Emerging players

• Fundación Proyecto Tití: Smaller Colombian NGO focused on conservation of the cotton-top tamarin (Saguinus oedipus). Partners with Fundación Natura on the 'Adopta un Tití Cabeciblanco' campaign and shares a species-focus, donor-adoption model in Colombian conservation.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/fundacionnatura
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/fundacionnaturacolom

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fundación Natura