TIPNIS and Climate TIPNIS and Climate ChangeChange

Teresa Flores, December 1, 2011Teresa Flores, December 1, 2011

The importance of the Indigenous March for TIPNIS

The Indigenous Territory and Isiboro The Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Securé National Park (TIPNIS)Securé National Park (TIPNIS)

Contents

• Location of TIPNIS• The park was founded in 1965• Ecological value• Population• Importance for climate change• Migration and adaption• The march against the highway• Possible impacts of the highway• Conclusions

TIPNISTIPNIS(Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure (Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure

National Park)National Park)

TIPNIS is located in the center of Bolivia and covers an area of 12.000 km2

TIPNIS is one of Bolivia's best preserved TIPNIS is one of Bolivia's best preserved areas with extensive forests and swampsareas with extensive forests and swamps

TIPNIS has abundant hydrological resources. Its rivers are important tributaries for the Amazonian Basin.

Ecological ValueEcological Value

TIPNIS is a very high precipitation zone where TIPNIS is a very high precipitation zone where the rains can reach altitudes up to 5000m.the rains can reach altitudes up to 5000m.

It covers a very wide range of altitudes from It covers a very wide range of altitudes from 3000m to 180m over sea level, which have a 3000m to 180m over sea level, which have a large dividersity of ecosystems such as:large dividersity of ecosystems such as:

Cliff cloud forests, the medium to high humidity Cliff cloud forests, the medium to high humidity forests of the Yungas and the Chaparé, the low forests of the Yungas and the Chaparé, the low Andean floodplain forests, the base station Andean floodplain forests, the base station humid forest, river valley forests, world record humid forest, river valley forests, world record swamps, flood-prone savannas, cypress swamps, flood-prone savannas, cypress swamps, and various lakes. swamps, and various lakes.

It is estimated that TIPNIS is home to 3000 It is estimated that TIPNIS is home to 3000 large plant species and various fine wood trees large plant species and various fine wood trees such as the mara, which is commercially such as the mara, which is commercially extinct.extinct.

FaunaFauna

The fauna is very diverse. 73 species of mammals The fauna is very diverse. 73 species of mammals have been found among its identified species, such have been found among its identified species, such as the Andean bear, 6 feline species including the as the Andean bear, 6 feline species including the jaguar, the pejichi (giant armadillo), the londra (a jaguar, the pejichi (giant armadillo), the londra (a type of otter), the swamp deer, and 10 monkey type of otter), the swamp deer, and 10 monkey species.species.

It is estimated that the park contains more than It is estimated that the park contains more than 600 bird species. 600 bird species.

Among its endangered reptiles is found the peta de Among its endangered reptiles is found the peta de río, the black cayman and the yacaré cayman. río, the black cayman and the yacaré cayman.

The park protects an estimated total of 46 The park protects an estimated total of 46 endangered vertebrate species.endangered vertebrate species.

TIPNIS is the “big house” of 3 TIPNIS is the “big house” of 3 indigenous groupsindigenous groups

The Trinity Moxeños consist of various ethnic The Trinity Moxeños consist of various ethnic groups which were grouped together in the Most groups which were grouped together in the Most Holy Trinity Jesuit Mission during the 17Holy Trinity Jesuit Mission during the 17thth Century. Century. Various comunities were displaced toward TIPNIS in Various comunities were displaced toward TIPNIS in search of the Holy Hill (Loma Santa).search of the Holy Hill (Loma Santa).

The Tsimane have always lived in this region and The Tsimane have always lived in this region and have had little contact with Bolivian society. They have had little contact with Bolivian society. They are nomads who move constantly in canoes.are nomads who move constantly in canoes.

The Yuracaré were expelled from their lands in the The Yuracaré were expelled from their lands in the Chaparé during the 1980s. They use the bow and Chaparé during the 1980s. They use the bow and arrow to hunt and fish.arrow to hunt and fish.

MMitigationitigation

The forests absorb and store carbon dioxide The forests absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. from the atmosphere.

TIPNIS is an important reserve (carbon sink), TIPNIS is an important reserve (carbon sink), whose destruction would cause a massive whose destruction would cause a massive release of carbon dioxide.release of carbon dioxide.

The largest source of Bolivian emisions comes The largest source of Bolivian emisions comes from deforestation and the burning of forests from deforestation and the burning of forests and pasture land.and pasture land.

TIPNIS is important for mitigation and adaption to climate change

Carbon and biodiversity mapCarbon and biodiversity map

The region contains very rich biodiversity and high carbon content.

Adaptation to climate Adaptation to climate changechange

Its forests are the source of the basic Its forests are the source of the basic resources for the people who inhabit the resources for the people who inhabit the park because they provide: hunting, park because they provide: hunting, fishing, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, fishing, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, construction materials, among other construction materials, among other things.things.

When deforested, the capacity for When deforested, the capacity for resilence to or recovery from the impacts resilence to or recovery from the impacts of climate change is lost, which means of climate change is lost, which means that the indigenous people will loose that the indigenous people will loose their way of life.their way of life.

Deforestation will produce more floods Deforestation will produce more floods due to greater water run-off.due to greater water run-off.

More diseases, plagues and greater food More diseases, plagues and greater food shortages will be produced.shortages will be produced.

The greater intensity and frequency of The greater intensity and frequency of flooding in Beni and Northern Santa Cruz flooding in Beni and Northern Santa Cruz is due to the deforestation in Santa Cruz is due to the deforestation in Santa Cruz and the Chaparé. and the Chaparé.

The indigenous people of TIPNIS were The indigenous people of TIPNIS were supported by 35 ethnic groups who supported by 35 ethnic groups who

carried out a heroic march:carried out a heroic march:

To stop the government from building a highway that would cross through the center of TIPNIS

The Indigenous March managed to pass a law prohibiting the construction of this highway

But a Brazilian company continues to build this highway and the coca growers continue taking control of TIPNIS.

The impact of The impact of building the building the highway:highway:

▶ ▶ DeforestationDeforestation▶ Burning of forests▶ Burning of forests▶▶ CO CO2 2 EmisionesEmisiones▶ E▶ Expansion of coca xpansion of coca plantationsplantations▶ Loss of water ▶ Loss of water sourcessources▶▶ Flooding during Flooding during the rainy seasonthe rainy season▶ Loss of ▶ Loss of flora and flora and fauna fauna

What's the highway for?What's the highway for?

This highway would cross through a National Park with very This highway would cross through a National Park with very little population density.little population density.

In Bolivia, many high priority highways are not paved. In Bolivia, many high priority highways are not paved. The existing highways should be The existing highways should be upgraded and paved and new upgraded and paved and new highways should be built in zones with greater commerce and highways should be built in zones with greater commerce and population density.population density.

For these reasons, $414 million dollars should not be wasted For these reasons, $414 million dollars should not be wasted building a highway that would cross swamps and would only building a highway that would cross swamps and would only serve coca growsers who want to expand their planting in serve coca growsers who want to expand their planting in TIPNIS, as they have been doing for decades. TIPNIS, as they have been doing for decades.

The greater production of illegal coca will only increase drug The greater production of illegal coca will only increase drug trafficing and violence.trafficing and violence.

ConclusionsConclusionsThe fight for TIPNIS will help: The fight for TIPNIS will help:

Save cultural diversity (3 ethnic groups)Save cultural diversity (3 ethnic groups)

Save biological diversitySave biological diversity

Preserve water sources and water qualityPreserve water sources and water quality

Mitigate the greenhouse gasses produced by Mitigate the greenhouse gasses produced by climate change.climate change.

Maintain the resilience and the capicity for Maintain the resilience and the capicity for recovery to climate change among the people recovery to climate change among the people who inhabit the forest. who inhabit the forest.

Let's not allow the construction Let's not allow the construction of this highway to continue!of this highway to continue!

Continue the fight Continue the fight

for TIPNIS!for TIPNIS!

Thanks for Thanks for

your support!your support!

Teresa Flores, December 1, 2011Teresa Flores, December 1, 2011Translated by Amos BattoTranslated by Amos Batto

ReferencesReferences

The Isiboro Securé National Park (PNIS) was founded by the The Isiboro Securé National Park (PNIS) was founded by the Legal Decree (DL) Nº 07401 (12/22/1965) Legal Decree (DL) Nº 07401 (12/22/1965)

In 1990, DS Nº 22610 recognized PNIS as the indigenous In 1990, DS Nº 22610 recognized PNIS as the indigenous territory of the Mojeño, Yuracaré and Chiman peoples, territory of the Mojeño, Yuracaré and Chiman peoples, naming it the Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure naming it the Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure National Park (TIPNIS). This DS enlarged the area, National Park (TIPNIS). This DS enlarged the area, incorporating the external zones of the Isiboro and Sécure incorporating the external zones of the Isiboro and Sécure Rivers. They establiced a cushion zone and a red line to Rivers. They establiced a cushion zone and a red line to check the expansion of colonization.check the expansion of colonization.