"The Sierra Nevada & The Kogi: Heart of GaiaCC"
Partnering with ancestral guardians of the “Heart of the World” for truly regenerative projects.
The Kogi: Guardians of the “Heart of the World”
The community
The Kogi are one of four Indigenous peoples who inhabit the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. They see the Sierra as the Heart of the World – a place whose balance sustains life far beyond its visible borders.
Leadership
Kogi spiritual and community leaders (Mamos and Sagas) hold sophisticated ancestral knowledge about water, soils, forests and the invisible connections between mountains, rivers and oceans. Their guidance shapes how, where and whether restoration work should happen.
Reciprocity
GaiaCC does not “speak for” the Kogi. Instead, we treat them as rights-holders and decision-makers, not stakeholders or beneficiaries.
The Sierra Nevada: A Living Biocultural Sanctuary
UNESCO World Site
The Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, on Colombia’s Caribbean coast, is one of the most biodiverse mountain systems on Earth. Rising from sea level to snow in less than 50 km, it contains tropical dry forest, cloud forest, páramo, glaciers and rich river systems that support thousands of people downstream.
Working Together
For GaiaCC, the Sierra is more than a project site. It is a biocultural territory where ecology, water cycles and Indigenous knowledge are tightly woven together. Any work we do here must strengthen those relationships – not extract from them.
At GaiaCC, our mission is to restore ecosystems, strengthen local communities, and help businesses transition from extractive models to regenerative ones. We believe financial capital can be a force for ecological repair when guided by science, culture, and long-term stewardship.
Our work is rooted in the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta, Colombia — home to ancient Indigenous tribes and one of the world’s most sacred ecological landscapes. We are more than a platform. We are a partnership between communities, scientists, farmers, and corporate leaders committed to restoring land, protecting culture, and building a regenerative future.
