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María Clara Botero Zapata

ORA Latin America 2025 Fellow

Abejorral, Antioquia, Colombia

María Clara Botero Zapata is a Colombian biologist, farmer, and ecofeminist activist of rural origin. She is the founder of Semillero Raíces, a permaculture school for rural children and youth that promotes agroecology, territorial defense, and community-based learning rooted in care, autonomy, and ancestral wisdom.

María Clara also founded El Maná Nature Reserve in Abejorral, Antioquia—an ecological sanctuary dedicated to biodiversity conservation and agroecological practice. Her work brings together scientific knowledge, popular education, and land-based resistance to extractivism. She sees agroecology not only as a technical practice but as a deeply political and spiritual act—one that weaves together joy, interdependence, and the defense of life in all its forms.

Through her ORA project, Semillero Raíces, María Clara is cultivating a new generation of land stewards in regions threatened by mining and hydroelectric projects. By integrating collective learning, ecological restoration, and food sovereignty, she uplifts the leadership of women and girls and nurtures a future grounded in respect, justice, and harmony with the Earth.

Learn more by following @semillero_raices_.

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