Where the Andes and the Amazon Meet: Biodiversity Guarded by Indigenous Peoples
A delegation from the LLF supervisory board, management board, and technical team recently traveled to Bolivia to observe conservation efforts and challenges in the captivating Madidi legacy landscape.
A Landscape of Diversity and Partnerships
This unique region, where the Andes and Amazon converge, encompasses a mosaic of Indigenous territories and three protected areas: Madidi, Pilón Lajas, and Apolobamba. The landscape hosts a remarkable variety of habitats and wildlife, ranging from rainforests teeming with species like white-lipped peccaries, macaws, and primates, to highland and peatland ecosystems home to wild vicuñas. The LLF program, implemented by the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) Bolivia in collaboration with the Bolivian Servicio Nacional de Áreas Protegidas (SERNAP) and Indigenous authorities, exemplifies a strong partnership model that integrates community ownership in protected area management.
Community-Led Conservation Efforts
During our visit, we met with key program stakeholders—including Indigenous leaders and communities, park rangers, and local producers—who openly shared their progress and challenges. We were deeply inspired by the dedication and innovation of all conservation partners whose commitment to preserving the landscape is driving impactful change. In the Indigenous territories of Uchupiamona, Tsimane-Mosetene, Tacana, Leco and Pukina, we saw how LLF supports community-based resource management and productive initiatives, such as vanilla, cacao, coffee, fishing, essential oils, and vicuña fiber harvesting. Our stay at eco-lodges like San Miguel del Bala and Chalalán—both operated by Indigenous communities—showcased the region’s potential for sustainable ecotourism. These activities are rooted in the communities’ life plans, ensuring long-term conservation that aligns with local priorities and fosters participatory governance.
Facing Pressures from Mining and Climate Change
Despite the significant progress, the Madidi landscape faces serious threats from gold mining, driven by high gold prices, and increasing wildfires exacerbated by climate change. These pressures threaten the biodiversity of the region as well as the livelihoods, health and wellbeing of Indigenous communities. Strengthening efforts to combat illegal mining and addressing these challenges are critical to preserve the integrity of the Madidi landscape and the broader Amazon ecosystem.
We would like to extend our gratitude to the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation for match funding this program and making these conservation efforts possible. This grant also would not have been possible without the generous contributions from the German Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Zusammenarbeit und Entwicklung (BMZ), France’s Agence Française de Développement (AFD), and the Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation (Norad).
