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Supporting nature positive livelihoods for Indigenous women in the Bolivian Amazon

Representative Name: Monica Cuba

Year: 2023

Country:

Bolivia

Topics:

BiodiversityDecision MakingGovernanceHealthy Ecosystems

Region:

Latin America and the Caribbean

About

Bolivia’s Madidi National Park is part of the Amazon rainforest ecosystem and one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. Since 2014 Practical Action has worked with indigenous communities living in the buffer zone around the Madidi park. Together with Indigenous People’s councils of the Tacana Nation, Practical Action has been working to strengthen community-based forest monitoring systems whilst developing multi-strata agroforestry systems, women’s entrepreneurial skills, and added-value products. The programme supports livelihoods that reduce pressures on local people to participate in extractive industries that cause deforestation and environmental contamination.

Climate impact

4,000 ha of forest monitored by 9 young women and 6 young men trained in conservation and biodiversity, working with park authorities.
302 women, 123 men, 87 girls and 88 boys participated in 21 farmer field schools for indigenous cocoa and coffee. 3 community nurseries have been established.
4 reforestation campaigns have so far reforested 44 ha of land in strategic locations, including to protect villages from flooding.

Gender impact

121 women participated in Women Business Schools, “Epuna Ecuana Eme” (Women’s Hands in Tacana), and developed self- confidence, social capital, business plans, and leadership skills.
3 women-led enterprises established or strengthened, specia- lizing in banana flour, medicinal soaps and oils, chocolate.
A brand and trademark was developed for Tacana community’s products supporting women’s role in agrobiodiversity.

Scalability/replicability

Designed and implemented in partnership with the Indigenous Women’s Council and Indigenous Council of the Tacana people.
Works closely with local government and key agencies, such as the Madidi Park Authorities.
Established new enterprises and strengthened existing ones. They continue to expand thanks to eco-tourism.

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