Bolivia: Creation of the Alto Beni protected area, a reason to celebrate
The protected area in the province of Caranavi in the department of La Paz, created through Law N°140, was possible thanks to the leadership of the Autonomous Municipal Government of Alto Beni, the protagonism of the two peasant federations and the technical support of Conservación Internacional (CI) Bolivia, through the help of prior consultation until the consolidation and validation of the basis for the creation of the area. The process took about a year.
The Alto Beni protected area follows the previous creation of five other areas with CI Bolivia's support, which cover around 3 million hectares. Between 2007 and 2008, the Pampas del río Yacuma Municipal Protected Area and Los Santos Reyes Municipal Area in Beni, the Serranía de Paramarani Watershed Protection Area in the municipality of Apolo in La Paz. In 2019 the Municipal Area of Conservation and Management of Bajo Madidi in the municipality of Ixiamas, and 2021, the Guanay Integrated Management Natural Area, both in the department of La Paz.
The municipality of Alto Beni declared "ecological" because its production systems are based on the preservation of the forest and biodiversity, avoiding the use of chemical agents, and prohibiting any extractive activity that puts water resources, water sources, soils, forests and biodiversity at risk. In this sense, the protected area is a strategic tool to consolidate the ecological vocation; sustainable human activities that respect the natural environment are valued through its management.
Alto Beni is an area with a great diversity of flora and fauna, and in addition to the warmth of its inhabitants, its yungueño forests are unparalleled. "Conserving the biodiversity of our municipality and being able to bring drinking water to the 12,000 inhabitants has been the motivation for the creation of the protected area," says Beltrán Márquez Sandoval, mayor of Alto Beni.
THE PROTECTED AREA
The protected area covers 6 of the municipality's eight districts. Of the 169 communities, 20 are within the protected area, and 43 are in the zone of influence. The site also overlaps with the Serranía de Bella Vista forest reserve.
Francisco Reinaga, administrative director of the municipality, says that the law seeks to protect the water in the hills and in the main streams. "If we don't protect these places, we will have problems in the future, which has been the main motivation for creating the protected municipal area.
Promoting the protected area was crucial for women, who are primarily responsible for household food security and have witnessed droughts in recent times. "We have climbed hills and mountains to see what was happening to the water, and with deep sadness, we have seen the encroachers engaging in malpractice. So we have organised ourselves and come out with one voice to make this claim," says Maria Eugenia Rodríguez, deputy mayor of Alto Beni's municipal district N⁰ 7.
REASONS FOR CREATION
A territory becomes a protected area when its biological value is proven by its high biodiversity, reflected in the forests as an umbrella ecosystem, its endemic, threatened or endangered species. The provision of ecosystem services such as climate regulation, provision of food, reduction or mitigation of natural hazards and protection of sites with landscape value also characterises these territories. In addition to analysing these factors, deciding to declare a protected area requires social interest.
The creation of the area seeks to conserve the Alto Beni forest ecosystems, the biological diversity it harbours, the maintenance of the environmental functions of regulating the hydrological cycles and the reduction of the municipality's vulnerability to the effects of climate change. Furthermore, to protect water sources for both human consumption and productive activities and to improve the living conditions of the communities through the development of ecological production.
ADMINISTRATION AND ROLE OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE
Its future administration will be the responsibility of the Autonomous Municipal Government of Alto Beni and will have a social and institutional participation body called the Management Committee. CI Bolivia will also support the implementation of PA management.
"Men do not see from the same perspective as women, so we like to be involved in decision-making to contribute and put our priorities on the table. We want to be involved in managing the protected area," concludes Maria Eugenia.
Protected areas provide essential benefits far beyond the boundaries of the areas themselves. This is why managing this heritage is tremendous and implies significant commitment.
Source: jesuitas.lat
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