On Monday a government body, consisting of members from Colombia’s Registry and Notary office, a rural development government institute (Incoder) and the agency for national parks, announced the repossession. The 250 acres includes four pieces of land that will return to state ownership after the group proved that the land had not been aquired legally. Two pieces of the retrieved land were used for tourism and the remaining two were used for farming. The former owners will not be taken to court.
Initial investigations, published early in January, confirmed that there was a lack of clarity with regards to almost 40,000 acres of the national park, more than 80%, that appeared under private names.
The government body intends to clarify how much of the land was taken illegally after the zone was given national park status.
So far, the government has established the ownership of just over 10% of Tayrona. However the goal, in agreement with Julia Miranda, the director of the national parks agency, is to continue the investigation not only in Tayrona, but also in other national parks throughout the country.
Notary and Registry Superintendent Jorge Enrique Velez, reiterated that land within Colombia’s national parks cannot be bought or sold.
“Do not buy anything in the parks because you can be sure that 100% of the business will fall through. Do not allow yourself to be deceived,” Velez advised.