Working on Resource Management Practices

with highland Aymara communities in the

Cordillera Real, BoliviaA Progress Report from Sendas Altas - La Paz on

Foot

La Paz, BoliviaSustainable Summits 2014

Golden Colorado

La Paz - El Alto

2 million +

Tuni Condoriri

Illimani

Illampu

Illampu

Tuni Condoriri

Huayna Potosi

Illimani

The Cordillera Real

Akhmani

Denver

La Paz

Illampu

Tuni Condoriri

Huayna Potosi

Illimani

The Cordillera Real

Akhmani

Tiwanaku

Tiwanaku Archeological Site

El Alto

La Paz

La Paz & El Alto - The New Center of Command & Control

Local actores in the Cordillera Real

Community-based Tourism - CBT

CBT in practice

Waste Management in CBT

WM in CBT - barriers● Opportunity costs are high● Limited to non existent access to information and

technologies for preventing waste impacts● Unsustained intervention from entities seeking to help

improve conditions for waste management (information, technology, materials)

● Trekking and climbing are incipient and highly seasonal/sporadic sectors in the Cordillera Real’s mix of human activity

● Lack of trained guides and other actors as well as local norms to guide high mountain sports activities

● What else? You are an experienced bunch!

WM in CBT - opportunities

· Existing organizations, including the more “classic” ones such as UIAMGB and innovative ones such as Mujer Montanha· Technicians that know how to work with local communities on implementing novel resource management systems· Growing middle class that can be encourage to engage more with local high mountain landscapes (if security, access and conditions are improved) and thereby add value to them and invest in their care· Strong spiritual beliefs among both rural and urban populations about mountain landscapes that can be “activated” or “called upon” through innovative information and action campaigns to foster sustainable behavior in “defense of mother earth”· Increasingly strong attitudes and norms in favor of “protegiendo lo nuestro” from exploitation by outside actors

What are we doing?

Association of Mountain and Trekking Guides of Bolivia

Generating local awareness about and support for WM in high mountain regions

Lessons being learned1) Long term operator-community partnerships that are transparent, fair and include a mix of training and support combined with gradually increasing income generation is the way to go2) Benefits from such cooperation must produce tangible, mutual benefits for partners3) Opportunity costs can not be underestimated and must be taken into account when planning joint projects

Opportunities for collaboration

Thank you . . . and come visit us!