The Cali Botanical Garden, situated in the middle sector of the Cali river in the Municipality of Cali, Valle del Cauca, Colombia, is a private conservation effort which promotes the integration of nature conservation and development of human communities in its influence zone. The strategy recommended in this document is the conservation of ecosystems which is based on a philosophy of regional development, where the conservation of biological resources and the satisfaction of human community needs are inseparable. Since the beginning of operations two years ago, the Garden has been operating a conservation education program with adequate infrastructure which provides education and recreation opportunities for the school children of the city. Through a subsidized Green Pass the Garden provides students of low income sectors an enriched learning experience. An ecological restoration process is being advanced to increase the native vegetation cover in the degraded hillsides near Cali. As part of this project local community members are trained in the tree nursery of the Garden and their participation is basic in the tree planting and protection of forest resources in the watershed. An ecological park along the Cali river is being promoted with participation of the environmental committee of the Commune One and the botanical garden.