Territorial vision · Zapatoca · Santander · Colombia
A vision proposed by the people of Zapatoca, for Zapatoca: a reference for Colombia and the world in quality of life for all, contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals. It sets out present and future actions over a five-year working horizon, grouped into four local revolutions — solving the great challenges of the 21st century from the territory.
Philosophy and values
The model rests on an "organized drive" (pujanza organizada), social equity and collective benefit. It is a vision proposed by the people of Zapatoca for Zapatoca, led by the peasant sector — the foundation of local society — together with the other sectors that share the values that identify its people.
The four revolutions
Each front has its own plan, legal instruments and people responsible, all aligned with a single vision of the municipality.
A participatory governance plan: land-use planning (EOT), heritage protection, local development plans and citizen participation councils, linking the Chamber of Commerce, SENA and universities.
An environmental management plan for the permanent protection of water, soil, air and biodiversity, and resilience to climate change.
An economic development plan built on agricultural and agro-industrial vocation, and tourism that restores nature and heritage.
A culture and community plan to defend historic, architectural and cultural heritage, with digital and physical tools for visitors.
International recognition
Zapatoca was selected among the Best Tourism Villages of 2023 by UN Tourism (then UNWTO) for its rural and natural wealth, its evenly laid-out urban grid and its traditional architecture: wooden façades, clay roof tiles, cane ceilings and rammed-earth walls.
The vision in action
A single event can touch all four revolutions at once. CIDERT drafted a full operating plan for the town's 2027 fair, built from a diagnosis of what happened in 2026: an organizing committee (Visionary and Organized), environmental indicators (Clean and Pure), an agricultural business roundtable (Efficient and Productive) and peasant identity (Cultural and Community). Plan in Spanish ↗
AI models trained with data from the territory and designed to run offline would serve all four revolutions: water monitoring, early pest detection, heritage cataloguing and verifiable evidence for funders. Nothing is implemented yet; we are seeking funding for a first seed pilot in La Cacica. Read the proposal.
Legal framework
Municipal land-use planning.
Organic law on territorial planning.
Organic law on development plans.
Right to democratic participation.
Rationalization of territorial public spending.
Housing, city and territory sector.
Amendment to land-use plan rules.
Simpler land-use plans for small municipalities.
"Zapatoca: Visionary and Organized, Clean and Pure, Efficient and Productive, Cultural and Community."
Join the vision
Universities, funders and partners can support specific steps of the four revolutions.