Proyecto Titi
Columbian villages have no formal garbage disposal system so villagers often dispose of their plastic bags by leaving them on the sides of roads or burning them. The abandoned plastic bags make their way into the adjacent forests and waterways which threaten the health of a range of species including the cotton-top tamarins, primates that live in the forests of Columbia and are in danger of becoming extinct.
Proyecto Titi is protecting the cotton-top tamarin as well as its rain forest habitat that support rich biodiversity by using a combination of field research, education, and community programs. The community programs help not only this endangered species, but also many villagers because Proyecto Titi makes protecting the tamarin and its habitat economically beneficial. Proyecto Titi helped create the women’s cooperative ASOARTESANAS, which inspired the entire village of Los Limites to support the protection of the cotton-top tamarin through Proyecto Titi’s economic program.
The people of Los Limites collect and prepare plastic bags to be made into eco-mochilas with the support and teachings of the women of ASOARTESANAS. Eco-mochilas are traditional Columbian bags that Proyecto Titi has taught the women’s cooperative how to make using plastic bags. Eco-mochilas are made using 100 to 200 recycled plastic bags. Proyecto Titi sells the mochilas and returns sales revenues to the village women. In this way, poor villagers are able to increase their income while protecting the cotton-top and its environment.
The women of ASOARTESANAS go door to door and collect plastic bags before the bags are thrown out or burned. The women also educate their fellow villagers on the importance of conserving cotton-top tamarins and their habitat.