Nueva Esperanza Municipality Establishes Río Negro, a New Protected Area in the Northern Bolivian Amazon

In a significant victory for conservation in the Bolivian Amazon, the Municipal Government of Nueva Esperanza has officially established the Río Negro Amazonian Forest Municipal Protected Area (Área Protegida Municipal Bosque Amazónico de Manejo Integral y Turístico – BAMIT Río Negro). The area encompasses over 517,156 acres (209,286 hectares) of tropical forests, seasonally flooded savannas, alluvial plains, the meandering Negro River, and ancient geological formations of the Precambrian shield. This new protected area designation is a testament to the strength of community-led conservation and safeguards the area against environmental threats.

Safeguarding a Biodiverse Territory in Bolivia’s Northern Amazon

Río Negro boasts high ecological importance as it contains Amazonian forests in a very good state of conservation. Their protection is vital for conservation at a regional scale especially since similar ecosystems in neighboring Brazil have been heavily fragmented and converted for agriculture.

The area protects a variety of Amazonian ecosystems and ancient geological formations of the Precambrian shield. The Negro River itself meanders through the area, providing a crucial resource for the food security of local communities and forming important alluvial ecosystems. Much like other protected areas in Pando, Bolivia, Río Negro is a hotspot of biodiversity, with habitats home to important fauna such as the jaguar (Panthera onca), South American tapir (Tapirus terrestris), Bolivian river dolphin (Inia boliviensis), and the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis). The area’s flora is equally significant, featuring endemic and economically vital species like açaí palm (Euterpe precatoria), mahogany (Swetenia macrophylla), and rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis). Studies in the adjacent Bruno Racua Reserve underscore this richness, with biologists recording 1,098 plant species, including two new to science; 315 bird species, with 26 endemic to the South Amazon; and 74 newly recorded mammal species for Bolivia.

The area holds remarkable archaeological evidence of ancient civilizations, including petroglyphs that point to the historical presence of Indigenous Peoples. These lands are the traditional home of the Tacanas, Esse Ejjas, Pacahuaras, Cavineños, Yaminahuas, and Machineri Peoples, whose heritage is intrinsically linked to these forests. These ancient rock carvings, some potentially dating back thousands of years, highlight the area’s potential for archaeological research and ecotourism. Additionally, the area’s eastern section has a formation of megalithic structures which are important Precambrian geological formations and serve as a refuge for wildlife.

The establishment of Río Negro provides a strategic defense against deforestation, illegal mining, forest fires, and land encroachment that endanger this vital corner of the Amazon. The vision for Río Negro’s management is to create a model where conservation, food security, and local economic growth go hand in hand.

A Community-Driven Victory with a Vision for the Future

The initiative for the establishment of Río Negro was born from a participatory process that involved Indigenous and rural communities, social organizations, and the “Nueva Esperanza” Campesino Workers’ Union. This collaborative approach ensures that the management of the protected area remains grounded in the needs and understanding of the local population. While the Municipal Government of Nueva Esperanza will oversee the area, its administration will be supported by management and technical committees, as well as a dedicated environmental volunteer program. This framework is designed to strengthen monitoring, environmental education, and active community participation whereby the objectives of conserving biodiversity, promoting sustainable economies, and fostering scientific research and education within the area can be fulfilled.

The establishment of the Río Negro Municipal Protected Area demonstrates a powerful and replicable model where subnational governments and communities can take the lead in protecting our planet’s most critical ecosystems, ensuring that the natural and cultural wealth of the Amazon is preserved for generations to come.

Acknowledgements:

The establishment of the Río Negro Municipal Protected Area was made possible by the Municipal Government of Nueva Esperanza in the Department of Pando. This achievement was also accomplished thanks to the active participation of the Indigenous and local communities, social organizations, and the “Nueva Esperanza” Campesino Workers’ Union. Technical support for the area’s creation was provided by Conservación Amazónica – ACEAA with the financial support of the Andes Amazon Fund via the The Wyss Foundation and Art into Acres.