Colombia is working hard to reshape the future of the Rosario Islands, a national park made up of 27 beautiful islands in the Caribbean. For over 500 years, these islands have seen colonial rule, illegal occupation, and environmental degradation. Today, the government is focused on promoting sustainable tourism while addressing the islands’ complex history and fragile ecosystem.
The country’s National Parks authority is actively encouraging responsible tourism to protect the natural beauty of the area. At the same time, Colombia’s National Land Agency is battling to undo centuries of illegal land grabs, ensuring that the islands return to state control.
The Environmental Ministry is also working on restoring the unique underwater life surrounding the Rosario Islands. Coral reefs, crucial to the marine ecosystem, have been heavily damaged, but efforts are underway to rehabilitate them.
A Colonial Past and a Safe Haven
The Rosario Islands, like much of the northern coast of Colombia and Venezuela, were originally home to the indigenous Caribe people. However, European colonists claimed the islands early in the 15th century, turning Cartagena into a major hub for the Spanish slave trade.
For many Africans who escaped or evaded slavery, the Rosario Islands became a safe refuge. This continued until the 19th century when Colombia gained independence from Spain, abolished slavery, and claimed the islands as state property.
Land Battles of the Modern Era
Issues with illegal occupation resurfaced in the early 2000s when Colombia’s now-defunct land
in northern coast of modern-day Colombia and Venezuela, were once home to the Caribe people, indigenous inhabitants who thrived long before European colonists arrived. However, the Spanish colonization of the early 15th century quickly displaced these communities. Cartagena, a nearby city, became one of the major hubs for the transatlantic slave trade.
During this period, the Rosario Islands became a place of refuge for enslaved Africans who managed to escape or evade captivity. These islands provided some shelter from the oppressive colonial system. When Colombia gained independence in the 19th century, the Spanish were expelled, and slavery was abolished. The islands were then declared state property, marking the end of the colonial occupation.
Modern-Day Occupation and Corruption
Despite their historical significance and status as public lands, the Rosario Islands fell into a new kind of occupation in the 2000s. Colombia’s now-defunct land agency, Incoder, leased the islands to various shady individuals, some of whom had ties to organized crime. One infamous case involved leasing an island to Alain Suaza, known as the “Pablo Escobar of contraband and money laundering,” as exposed by Semana in 2021. The agency claimed this lease was made to a different person back in 2007, but corruption clearly played a role.
In an effort to right these wrongs, Gerardo Vega, the current director of the National Land Agency (ANT), is working to nullify 42 illegal lease contracts that were fraudulently approved by corrupt Incoder officials before the agency was shut down in 2016. His goal is to reclaim the Rosario Islands for public use, ensuring the beaches and lands are once again accessible to tourists.
Restoring the Environment and Rewriting the Future
As part of a broader campaign to remove illegal occupants, Vega’s work is complemented by ongoing environmental efforts to save the islands’ delicate ecosystems. The islands’ coral reefs and vibrant marine life, including numerous tropical fish species, are at risk of disappearing after centuries of environmental neglect. Pollution, unsustainable fishing practices, and unchecked tourism have all contributed to the damage.
In response, National Parks authorities have implemented strict environmental regulations aimed at preventing further harm from tourists. Educational programs are also underway to teach visitors about the islands’ fragile ecosystems and the importance of preservation. Alongside these efforts, the Ministry of Environment is leading a project to replant coral reefs around the islands, attempting to restore the underwater habitats that have nearly died out after centuries of exploitation.
With these efforts in place, Colombia is trying to create a future for the Rosario Islands that balances responsible tourism with environmental conservation. The goal is to preserve this Caribbean treasure for generations to come, reversing the damage done over the last 500 years.
