The ICCA Consortium Assembly brings together leading indigenous actors who defend their territories, men and women with a history of fighting to conserve natural resources in Bolivia. “Territories of Life” that conserve biological diversity and sacred sites that are protected and governed by indigenous peoples and local communities, as they are their source of food, medicine, water and other means of local subsistence.

With the participation of leading Indigenous representatives from different regions of the country, the Assembly of ICCAs of Bolivia was held on March 15th in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. During the event, participants presented the environmental characteristics of their territories and shared their experiences and challenges in defending them, which are being encroached upon and violated.

In turn, various threats facing priority territories for conservation, such as the Chiquitania, the Chaco, the Pantanal and the Amazon, were discussed and analyzed. “There is a need to conserve the planet, which is in danger. Scientists have already said that we should have been working yesterday, and since we did nothing yesterday, we have to start today. I invite you, brothers and sisters, leaders of your ICCAs, leaders in your territories, to join forces to continue working in defense of our territories, because there are already important alliances that are changing mindsets. Europe is changing its mindset that there are indigenous peoples who have indeed conserved these forests, which serve the world, for thousands of years.”, "Reflects Mr. Wrayz Perez, indigenous leader of the Wampis Nation of the Peruvian Amazon and President of the ICCA Consortium of Latin America.".

Present at the event were local authorities from the Central Indigenous Communities of Chiquitos (TURUBÓ) and the General Chief of the Chiquitano Indigenous Council of San José de Chiquitos, as well as representatives from the Santa Cruz la Vieja Natural and Historical Heritage Protected Area, which falls within the jurisdiction of this municipality and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Also in attendance was a representative from the Guaraní Indigenous Autonomy of Charagua Iyambae, an area of influence of the Kaa-Iya del Gran Chaco National Park and Integrated Management Area (ANMI). This protected area was created through the efforts of three lowland Indigenous communities, marking a historic milestone in Bolivia. It preserves ancestral Indigenous values and represents the largest expanse of the Chaco tropical dry forest in the world.

Also present at this meeting were new members of Indigenous and local communities preparing to join the Consortium, such as the Central Indigenous Organization of Bajo Paraguá (CIBAPA), leaders from the El Porvenir community, and the Chiquitana community of the municipality of San Ignacio de Velasco, located between the Chiquitana and Amazon ecoregions, surrounding Noel Kempff Mercado National Park. Leaders from the Association of Women Entrepreneurs of the Chiquitana community of Santo Corazón, located in the Pantanal (a Ramsar Site), also participated. They shared their experiences with initiatives that strengthen their local livelihoods in Santo Corazón, as well as their actions in defense of their territory against the threats of mining. This community is located within the San Matías ANMI Protected Area, where they participate in projects with an ICCA (Indigenous Community Council of Asturias) approach.

One of the prominent new members was the Central Indigenous Organization of Native Communities of Lomerío (CICOL), representing one of the most representative regions of the Chiquitanía under the governance of an Indigenous community. The territory of the municipality of Lomerío, designated as Community Land of Origin (TCO) and a Biological Immobilization Natural Reserve, is designated as such.

Representatives from the Chimane Mosetén Regional Council of the Pilón Lajas Indigenous Territory and the Association of Indigenous Communities of the Beni, Tuichi, and Quiquibey Rivers, from the Amazon region of Beni and La Paz, also participated. This latter organization has been defending its territories and protected areas against various threats, such as the proposed mega-hydroelectric dams on the Beni River and the growing threat of gold mining. Both organizations expressed their concern, but also their commitment to defending their traditional spaces for future generations and ensuring the continuity of their territories and cultures.

Honorary members of the Consortium, with extensive experience and commitment to ICCAs, were also present, as well as representatives from the Guaraní Museum and the Association of Management Committees of Protected Areas of the Chaco, Chiquitanía, Pantanal and Southern Amazon.

The Assembly was organized by the Savia Association, the coordinating body for ICCAs in the Amazonian countries. The event was characterized by a stimulating debate and exchange of experiences, during which joint actions were proposed to strengthen the ICCA Network and each of the Territories of Life that are part of the Network in Bolivia. Towards the end of the Assembly, Mr. Ronald Zeballos, a member of the Turubó Central, was elected as the new national coordinating body.