Capacity building for the sustainable use of the Lakes Poopó and Uru Uru

The Ramsar Convention considers 'the high Andean wetlands as strategic ecosystems' due to the functions that they perform, the multiple services that they provide and their unique ecological characteristics. The Poopo and Uru Uru lakes, situated in the Bolivian Puna at 3680 m (asl) They extend over almost 1 million ha, and together make up the largest national Ramsar site in the entire high Andean region. They harbour one of the largest populations of the three Andean flamingo species, and a large diversity of migrant birds and fish species. Both of these wetlands are found outside of Protected Areas and therefore are currently lacking in environmental management and planning initiatives. Management planning is urgently needed in the face of chemical contamination due to mining and industrial activities (metals, oil). Other threats are overgrazing of marshes and grasslands, introduction of exotic cattle, drainage for irrigation purposes, seasonal grassland fires, and unregulated tourism. Lake Poopó is considered as one of the most “critical” in terms of conservation status in all of Latin America. The general objective of the current proposal is the elaboration of a management plan using Ramsar convention guidelines and the analysis of the threats to these wetlands in order to adequately design and implement concrete activities to mitigate actual and potential impacts on the fragile ecosystems. At the same time, the proposal aims to identify development alternatives, that are compatible with a sustainable use and management vision for the wetlands, for the local indigenous population including Uru Muratos and Aymaras who inhabit these areas since many centuries. The project includes the following activities: * Development of the technical basis of a management plan, * Zoning of the Ramsar Site, * Training of local people in conservation and management of the wetland, * Implementation of an environmental education programme for local schoolteachers and the local population in general, * Support local handicraft production initiatives in order to improve incomes in the region, including the development of a commercialisation strategy.

Important technical information about Ramsar sites Lakes Poopó and Uru Uru has been gathered during this Project, such as the situation of hydrological resources, pastures cultivation, agriculture, livestock raising operations, biodiversity, touristic potentialities and cultural history. The proposed zonification of the site is based on this information, as well as the proposal of Management Plan for the conservation of this wetland, which has been agreed upon with communities from 12 municipalities and also received strong support from the Bolivian government. A public/private Committee (Management Committee) for the Ramsar site has been created in order to coordinate activities and face decisions for the sustainable use of these aquatic ecosystems. Lakes Poopó and Uru Uru are being now considered to be declared as a regional (within the department of Oruro) protected area as a direct result of this project and a previous process carried out by BIOTA. The value and importance of the conservation of natural resources and regional cultural values were main topics in 21 environmental education workshops, which were carried out at different levels within 7 local communities, with a total of 855 participants. Capacity building for two indigenous communities (Villcani y Puñaca) on handycraft production with local wetland’s resources was another component of the Project. This included the establishment of and equipment for a small handycraft production unit in Puñaca, as well as efforts to promote the products in national commercial expositions.