Stephan Bodenmann has been part of the HR Campus family for over ten years. But his commitment extends far beyond the HR World: together with his wife Tatiana, he is committed to protecting 300 hectares of rainforest in Colombia - the equivalent of around 420 football pitches. Their favourite project, the Reserva Natural Porvenir, combines nature conservation, Education and community. HR Campus supports the project with full conviction. Find out more about his motivation, the challenges and his vision here.
Stephan, how did it all start - what motivated you personally to get involved in rainforest conservation in Colombia?
I would never have come into contact with this project without Tatiana. When I accompanied her to Colombia for the first time, I didn't know what to expect. The land has belonged to her family for many years and was originally intended for agriculture - as a livelihood, not as a nature reserve.
On site, I realised how complex the protection of such areas is. You can't look at nature conservation in isolation. The local people have to be able to make a living from it. Agriculture is essential for the survival of many families. At the same time, we in Switzerland like to consume products such as bananas, mangoes, avocados or meat, but hardly ever pay for the forest to be preserved.
This realisation has stayed with us. Together, we founded the Reserva Natural Porvenir association with the aim of protecting the rainforest, preserving biodiversity and empowering the local population.
How has Reserva Natural Porvenir developed since then?
We quickly learnt that sustainable progress takes time. Tatiana likes to compare our project to a turtle - slow but steady. And that's exactly how it feels.
Since our foundation in 2021, we have been developing new ideas step by step: We are planting trees, creating migration corridors for animals, promoting environmental education and looking for ways to better combine agriculture and nature conservation. The moment when we visited a school with biologists, handed over notebooks and felt the children's enthusiasm for nature was particularly moving.
We have also made structural progress: The association is now tax-exempt and donations have been tax-deductible since this year.
Why are wildlife corridors such an important part of your project?
Many animal species need large, contiguous forest areas in order to move freely, find food and reproduce. Our aim is therefore to connect habitats and break down barriers between forest fragments. If forests become isolated, genetic diversity decreases and with it the resilience of animal populations. By creating corridors, we promote the exchange between animal groups and ensure their long-term survival. In the long term, we would also like to work with neighbouring plots of land to connect more woodland. Every tree planted counts because it creates habitat for future generations.
Working with the local population is also an important part of your commitment. How do you manage to work together locally?
Tatiana's parents, Gladys and Francisco, have lived in the countryside for over 30 years. That creates trust. Projects like this only work on an equal footing.
We know that you can't make a living from pure nature conservation. That's why we seek a balance between sustainable agriculture and nature conservation. With school projects and tree planting, we sensitise children and families to the uniqueness of their environment. We hope that this awareness will be passed on in the long term.
What role do schools play in your work?
The contact with schools was a real door opener. Thanks to the support of HR Campus, we were able to hand over several second-hand notebooks. Devices that had become obsolete here, but make a huge difference there. One school now has Starlink internet and therefore access to the digital world - a real game changer in this remote Area.
Together with HR Campus, we now want to set up a community garden. Under the leadership of the teacher, pupils and parents will cultivate vegetables, herbs and edible plants. The garden will be a place of learning where children can learn about sustainable agriculture, nature conservation and teamwork.
Stephan Bodenmann
Campus members & committed conservationist
What does the support from HR Campus mean to you? And how can other Campus members help?
It means an incredible amount to us. It shows that HR Campus is not just an employer, but a company that supports people in their favourite projects. Every contribution is channelled 100 % directly into local projects and helps us to achieve our goals. We are sincerely grateful for this.
There are many possibilities:
- Support with remote teaching or the development of learning materials
- Contributing ideas and contacts
- Donations for reforestation and education projects
A visit on site is also possible. However, you should know the following: It is hot, remote, full of mosquitoes and you will be travelling a lot on horseback. In return, you experience pure nature and get an authentic insight into life in the rainforest.
Between HR and the Rainforest: Commitment with Heart in Colombia
Between HR and the Rainforest: Commitment with Heart in Colombia
Between HR and the Rainforest: Commitment with Heart in Colombia
Between HR and the Rainforest: Commitment with Heart in Colombia
Between HR and the Rainforest: Commitment with Heart in Colombia