Change through Forests and Water

The “Change through Forests and Water” project in the Bolivian Amazon is making important progress. In the Comarapa region, reforestation, water protection and sustainable agriculture are being combined to safeguard water supplies in the long term and strengthen communities’ resilience to climate change and environmental degradation.

During the first half of 2026, fencing was completed in three water protection areas: Churo Negro, covering 360 hectares; Laguna Verde, covering 70 hectares; and Peña Blanca, covering 20 hectares. A total of 450 hectares are now physically protected. In addition, 320 people took part in two workshop rounds to develop management plans for the protected areas. These plans define rules, responsibilities and ongoing conservation tasks.

Concrete measures were also implemented to support groundwater recharge. A total of 5,000 metres of infiltration trenches, known locally as zanjas, were constructed during the reporting period. They help retain rainwater in the landscape and improve its infiltration into the soil.

Cooperation between municipalities is another key element of the project. At the first inter-municipal environmental conference in Comarapa on 27 February 2026, 38 participants came together. The municipalities of Comarapa, Mairana, Pampagrande and Saipina signed a binding agreement to work jointly on environmental and resource-management issues.

A completed water inventory for all twelve target municipalities now provides an important basis for future water management. It records open water sources, discharge volumes, streams, and natural and artificial lagoons. This information will make it possible to monitor changes in water availability more systematically.

Reforestation activities are also continuing. A further 3,798 seedlings were planted during the second quarter. Across the project area, windbreak belts now extend over 7.2 kilometres and comprise 18,000 trees. These rows of trees protect agricultural land from wind erosion and contribute to the ecological restoration of the landscape.

Sustainable farming measures have so far been implemented with 120 families. They include 60 drip-irrigation systems, 43 improvements in livestock management and 17 orchards. These measures provide environmentally friendly and water-saving alternatives to practices that have placed pressure on soils, forests and water resources.

During the second half of 2026, the project plans to complete the remaining 48.5 hectares of reforestation. Further activities include a second inter-municipal conference, additional training in forest management and fruit cultivation, demonstration days, and preparations for the project’s external evaluation and financial audit.

The project runs from August 2024 to December 2026. More than 4,000 people benefit directly, while awareness-raising activities and improved water supplies are expected to reach approximately 76,500 people indirectly across the region.