Yaguarundi: The Regenerative Cat, is an interdisciplinary collective working where art, ecology, and community meet. Our mission focuses on restoring fragmented ecosystems in the Valle del Cauca, Colombia and creating educational initiatives that highlight the importance of biological corridors— essential pathways that reconnect landscapes long dominated by sugarcane monocultures. By rebuilding these corridors, we help ecosystems recover and make space for species to return and thrive.

We chose the Yaguarundi as the name and symbol of our collective because this small wild cat roams the Valle del Cauca and serves as a powerful indicator of ecological recovery. When a Yaguarundi moves through a corridor, it often signals the return of its companions—the fox, coclí bird, beetles, lizards, bees, flies, and many others—marking an ecosystem in regeneration. This symbol reflects the resilience, adaptability, and ecological vision that guide our work.

In the months leading up to COP16 @COP16Colombia, the UN’s major global summit on biodiversity, the collective developed a series of educational programs and public-facing materials—T-shirts, stencils for street art, coloring booklets, posters, and other items featuring the Yaguarundi and its companions. These materials helped spark recognition, curiosity, and engagement ahead of the conference. During COP16 , the collective presented a suite of programs co created with Circuito Terra and Jaguara and hosted at the YAWA: Science, Art & Technology Center Ana María Velasco played a leading role across all initiatives—directing some independently and co-leading others with fellow members. Her contributions shaped the collective’s presence throughout COP 16 conference through interdisciplinary programs spanning: Regenerative Agriculture; SCIART Symbiosis; La Sierra Artist Residency; Amazonia: Heart of Mother Earth; The Earth Has a Heart; Moving through Eco-Anxiety; Caring for Colombia Foundation. Together, these initiatives blended art, science, technology, and community action, positioning the collective as a vibrant cultural voice at the world’s leading biodiversity summit.