A key objective of the Interlace project is strengthening cooperation, learning, and peer-to-peer interactions between regions and projects. As part of this process, Natalia Burgos from the Interlace team was invited to take part in a knowledge exchange Task Force organized by Clearing House Project. The Task Force took place in Bogotá (Colombia) on 30 and 31 March 2023 and focused on discussing strategies for urban forest management and implementation, with an emphasis on governance and community participation.

During these two days, several working sessions were held to discuss the urban forest law for Bogotá and the implementation of methodologies to actively engage civil society in the management of key ecosystems. Local government representatives from both the Environmental and the Planning Secretariats were in attendance, collaborating with the community to co-create strategies for managing Bogotá's urban forests. More than 60 community leaders took part in hands-on work to discuss the best practices for urban forest management.

In her presentation, Natalia emphasized the importance of an adequate policy framework to foster the implementation of nature-based solutions. She shared European and Latin American best practices gathered through the Urban Governance Atlas, emphasizing the need for community involvement in the management of urban forests.

The knowledge exchange Task Force organized by Clearing House Projects was a huge success, demonstrating the importance of cooperation and learning between regions and projects. The Interlace project continues to work towards creating green spaces within cities and actively involving the community in managing these urban forests.