The WaterFoundation is launching the new project “Change through forest and water” in the Bolivian Amazon region, which will run from August 2024 to September 2026. The aim is to protect natural resources and promote sustainable development in the Comarapa region, in the buffer zone of the Amboró National Park.
The project includes large-scale reforestation activities and the establishment of water protection areas. These measures are intended to partially reverse the loss of forest areas and ensure the continuity and quality of the water supply in the long term. The Comarapa River, the central water supplier for Santa Cruz de la Sierra, is the focus here.
The project is being implemented in 12 communities and directly reaches over 4,000 people. Indirectly, around 76,500 people in eleven districts benefit from the improvements in water quality and quantity as well as from awareness-raising campaigns.
The WaterFoundation works together with the local partner Instituto de Capacitación del Oriente (ICO), which contributes extensive experience in the areas of water management and the protection of natural resources.
The project addresses important challenges such as soil erosion, loss of arable land, landslides and water scarcity, which are largely due to deforestation and overgrazing. It aims to reconcile ecological and economic interests and makes an important contribution to protecting the Amazon rainforest and combating climate change.