evangelical churches and conservation in san pacho, darién (colombian caribbean)

The locality of San Francisco de Asís (Acandí, Chocó) overlooking the Caribbean Sea, is a well-known headquarter for actions related to environmental protection, thanks to the work of organization and individuals that try to alleviate the global environmental crisis. The great expansion of the evangelical movement among populations that formerly were catholic puts these new local churches in a position of social actors that can contribute to the conservation projects of marine life and forests. Although there is no organic link between the conservationist movement and evangelical churches, analyzinga shared experience in the journeys of protecting marine turtles, we see how the topic gains relevance for the religious organizations, according to the ethnography realized between 2008 and 2009. Thus, religious believes cease to be contrasts to the norm, to set themselves up as dependent orientations within the context in which they operate.