Bogotá’s “Green Race”

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On Sunday, February 22nd at the Simon Bolívar park, a ‘Green Race’ is being held for the first time in Colombia and consists of a 10 km athletic endeavour inspired in the environment: to raise awareness on climate change issues, the rapid rate of deforestation to forests and wetlands, and the fragile state of Colombia’s rich biodiversity.

The U.S Embassy in Bogotá took up the challenge with Ambassador Kevin Whitaker at the helm to help make the ‘Green Race’ a reality for Bogotanos. Accompanied by the represenatives from the Ministry of Environment, the Botanical Garden of Bogotá José Celestino Mutis and Seguros Bolivar, the Ambassador believes this event is as much about having a fun and challenging race, as it is about acting on a critical global issue. “No matter where we live or what we do, climate change is a threat to each of us, as well as for future generations. The time to act is now.”

To make this event a success, the U.S Embassy forged an important partnership with the Natura Foundation, an organization with more than 30 years experience in citizens awareness of the importance of protecting the planet. For the Botanical Gardens, the race also seeks to “empower” citizens by raising awareness on the accelerated loss of biodiversity, and what this represents to the green heritage of Colombia. For Luisz Olmedo Martinez Zamora, director of the Botanical Garden of Bogotá, the first Green Race is about creating a “greener” city. Greener and with better air quality for our children and so that “future generations can play in the woods and in the public spaces.”

There are 5,000 slots for the first “Green Race” in Bogotá and six trees will be planted for every participant. Besides being the scene of an athletic event of great importance, the Green Race aims to mobilize not only those who like running, but those who wish to contribute to the planting of trees. There is only room for 5,000 runners in the race and each entry will have six trees planted as part of the”Unite for Forests” initiative, designed and implemented by the Natura Foundation and which strives to plant one million trees by the end of 2016. Reforestation will take place once the race ends, every weekend for ten weeks, on the Encenillo Biological Reserve, near Guasca.

The event in Bogotá is a milestone for the continent as it is certified in South America as the very first “Green Race” and already looking ahead to next year to double the participation of runners to 10,000. To sign up the race, visit the Carrera Verde website: www.carreraverdefn.com. There’s a presale until February 5th for runners, with a cost of $ 60,000 pesos.
The full price is: $64.500.

So even if your running skills need some fine tuning, don’t fret, for each and every step you take along the way, those six trees will offer shade and rest to others, in your name.

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