Maceo, Antioquia – February 2026

The Ika Refuge Habitat Bank (BH), located in the municipality of Maceo, Antioquia, has officially completed its registration process with the Ministry of Environment and Sustainable Development. Covering an area of 151.44 hectares, this project is positioned as a strategic node for the conservation of karst ecosystems and the protection of threatened species in the region.

The name of the Habitat Bank, Ika Refuge, pays tribute to ancestral wisdom. In this context, the project aims to serve as the guardian of the Eastern Antioquia Karst Corridor, integrating the protection of the endemic species Saccopteryx antioquensis with the stability of the unique ecosystems that sustain it.

 

The Route of Wings: A Multidisciplinary Technical Alliance

The development of this Habitat Bank is the result of the Route of Wings project, an initiative that brings together high-level science and environmental management. The Ika Refuge was developed with financial and strategic support from Bat Conservation International (BCI), along with the collaboration of a team of expert technical partners:

• Colombian Bat Conservation Program (PCMCo): Strategic and technical guidance.
• Mammalogy Group of the University of Antioquia (CTUA): Leadership in biological research and monitoring.
• Biology Program of Universidad del Rosario: Scientific and academic support.
• Cuántico – Global Eco Services: Technical leadership and overall coordination.
• Terrasos: Entity responsible for structuring, registration, and future management of the Bank.

 

Focus on Saccopteryx antioquensis

 

Photo by: La Ruta de las Alas

The central objective of this alliance is the conservation of Saccopteryx antioquensis, a bat species endemic to Colombia and currently endangered. The Ika Refuge protects critical habitats within the Karst Corridor of Eastern Antioquia Bat Conservation Area of Importance (AICOM COKOA). This system of caves and rocky shelters is not only vital for this species but also supports a rich biodiversity of flora and fauna associated with limestone-derived soils.

 

Management Strategy and Project Outlook

The Bank will implement an Establishment, Management, and Monitoring Plan (EMMP) with a 30-year vision, under two main approaches:

1. Preservation (137.83 ha): Protection of well-preserved natural forest cover.
2. Restoration (13.61 ha): Recovery of areas degraded by livestock activities to restore ecological connectivity.

 

Alejandra Cárdenas. Land Team. Terrasos. (2025). Photo by: La Ruta de las Alas

 

Gloria Tovar. Land Team. Terrasos. (2025). Photo by: La Ruta de las Alas

 

A Solution for Compliance Obligations and Voluntary Leadership

The Ika Refuge Habitat Bank is now officially registered and available as an alternative for organizations to fulfill their environmental compensation obligations and the mandatory 1% investment in the region. From an ecosystem perspective, the Habitat Bank represents the biotic richness of the Nechí-San Lucas Tropical Humid Zonobiome and the Nechí-San Lucas Peinobiome, with compensation factors of 7 and 6.5 respectively, offering high strategic value for compliance with these legal requirements under a results-based payment scheme.

Once the first partners are secured, the project will move forward with registration for the issuance of Tebu (Biodiversity Units). This step will enable an innovative mechanism for both organizations and individuals interested in voluntary investment to actively contribute to the financial sustainability of the refuge and the protection of the endemic species Saccopteryx antioquensis.

Are you looking for a technical and effective alternative to meet your environmental obligations in Antioquia? We invite you to explore the Ika Refuge Habitat Bank in our Geoviewer to learn more about its detailed location and available areas. Our team is ready to support you in aligning your projects with this conservation gem.

 

 

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