Bolivia

Background

The deforestation of the Amazon rainforest is causing a devastating environmental crisis with global repercussions. It is triggered by the interests of the timber industry and mining as well as the expansion of agriculture, particularly for livestock farming. The consequences are catastrophic: the loss of ever larger parts of the rainforest as a carbon sink, as well as an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, species extinction and the destruction of ecosystems.

In the project area in eastern Bolivia, deforestation is leading to soil erosion, the loss of arable land, landslides and water shortages. The latter is mainly due to the fact that deforestation and overgrazing destroy the ground vegetation and the soil’s absorption capacity deteriorates. If there is no infiltration, the underground water reserves and thus the quantities of spring water coming to the surface decrease.

In addition, the water in the rivers and at the water points is polluted by livestock farming and harmful agricultural practices. A lack of knowledge about the consequences of agricultural activities for nature and the conflict between economic and ecological interests are the main reasons for deforestation.

Out of necessity, short-term profits, especially from livestock farming, take precedence over long-term ecological interests. Supra-regional regulations are not applied at municipal level, and there are no regulations at all at municipal level. Basically, there is hardly any cooperation or platforms on which environmental management issues could be jointly coordinated. In order to stop deforestation, these causes must be addressed and economic and ecological interests reconciled.

Project location

The project area is located in the buffer zone of the Amboró National Park in the province of Manuel María Caballero, not far from Santa Cruz de la Sierra, the country’s largest city. The Comarapa River is the main water supplier for the city of Santa Cruz. Specifically, the project is active in 12 communities in the Comarapa district.

Project beneficiaries

The project focuses on restoring and safeguarding natural resources by establishing forest and water conservation areas. The reforestation and protection of the water area will have far-reaching effects. All people living in the project area will benefit from the measures: The water supply will be improved in terms of both quality and quantity. The reforestation activities not only influence soil quality, but can also prevent erosion. In total, over 4,000 people benefit directly from the measures. Indirectly, around 76,500 people in eleven districts are addressed by the awareness campaigns and improvements in water quality and quantity.

Project objective

Large-scale reforestation activities will partially reverse the loss of forest cover in the project area. At the same time, water protection areas will be established to ensure the continuity and quality of the water supply in the long term. With its measures, the project will help to harmonize the protection of the environment and the preservation of the livelihoods of the people in the project area, and the reforestation activities will make an important contribution to the fight against global climate change.

Project activities

The project activities include the following:

• Legal establishment and physical demarcation of the protected areas and the areas to be reforested;
• Reforestation of the protected areas and in strategically important zones to protect and improve water infiltration in order to raise the groundwater level in the long term;
• Conduct training for representatives from all communities around the Amboró Park to build skills and processes in environmental management;
• Establishing sustainable practices in agriculture and livestock farming (e.g. by fencing livestock, setting up livestock watering points);
• Establishing efficient irrigation systems for the land of the most vulnerable families (with priority for women-headed households);
• Supporting families in developing alternative sources of income that do not harm the environment.

Local partner organization

The Bolivian Instituto de Capacitación del Oriente (ICO) is a non-profit, legally recognized citizens’ association that began its activities in 1981.

Its members are professionals who are committed to the development of the country’s disadvantaged sectors in general and the valleys of Santa Cruz (Bolivia) in particular. ICO has extensive experience in the areas of water management, protection of natural resources and the delivery of training tailored to the local population. The WaterFoundation has been working successfully with ICO since 2019.

Costs
390,000 Euro

Sponsors
Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ)
Cordes & Graefe
Oswald Stiftung

Project duration
August 2024 to September 2026

Contact
Monica Denomy
m.denomy@wasserstiftung.de