The Gran Manupare: Over 1.1 Million Acres Protected in the Bolivian Amazon

Andes Amazon Fund applauds the creation of The Gran Manupare municipal conservation area, which spans an incredible 1,118,495 acres (452,639 hectares) of the northwestern Bolivian Amazon. The rainforests of Pando, where the new conservation area is located, are sanctuaries for a huge diversity of species including the endangered giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis) and the jaguar (Panthera onca). The Gran Manupare is a key piece in a massive conservation mosaic that spans nearly 25 million acres (10 million hectares), and was led in large part by local and Indigenous communities.

Bolivia has one of the highest deforestation rates per capita in the world. If scaled to population size, the nation is losing its forest at a rate 4 times faster than Brazil. The region of Pando, however, tells a different story. According to a statement from Conservation International, 90% of Pando’s forests are still standing. 

Pando’s success in conserving its forests is due in large part to municipal-level protected areas created with an emphasis on community and economic development— in particular, the sustainable harvesting of Brazil nuts. Contrary to its name, Brazil nuts mostly come from Bolivia, where they form the economic backbone for many local and indigenous communities. In Pando, according to Conservation International, sustainably managed Brazil nut tree forests make up some 70 percent of the region’s forest cover.

While Pando faces constant threats from agricultural expansion and mining, the local governments and communities that form the 25 million-acre mosaic of protection are joining forces to ensure the longevity of their forests, waterways, and livelihoods. Jaime Aguirre, mayor of the Sena municipality that established The Gran Manupare conservation area, said: “As a municipality and rural and indigenous communities, we consider it important to conserve our forests for future generations, protect our territory, and help ensure that our projects are sustainable. It is important to conserve Pando.”

Acknowledgments

The creation of The Gran Manupare municipal conservation area was made possible through a collaboration of actors: the Municipality of Sena, the leaders of social organizations and communities in the area, with the support of the Association of Municipalities of Pando (AMEPANDO), and NGOs like CIPCA and Conservation International Bolivia. Financial backing was provided by Our Future Forest – Vital Reserves project, Bezos Earth Fund, Andes Amazon Fund, and the Swedish Embassy. 

Learn more about The Gran Manupare municipal protected area from our partners at Conservation International.