Mission
Amazon Fund made the survey to explore possibilities for implementing its goals and objectives of conserving Amazonian nature and cultures. The first project we researched was the potential of establishing a combined wildlife rehab and field study center. Both centers have the additional objectives of creating awareness and improving attitudes towards nature.


Bolivia
Bolivia is centrally located in South America. Its biological diversity is enormous. It is about 2 times the size of France. Highlights of the country include the variety of nature in both the lowlands and highlands. It has a low population density of (about 8.500.000/ 1.1 million sq km), and there are still pristine areas. Hopefully, the tensions in this poor and divided country won't escalate.

La Paz
We commenced our journey in La Paz, altitude of 3700 to 4000 m. With its colourful markets, beautiful buildings, and authentic and western districts, this Bolivian capital has a lot to offer.

Rurrenabaque
After a few days of meetings we went for a 4-day canoe trip on the Rio Beni, starting from a small village called Salaria which lies 11 hours (by canoe) up the Beni river from Rurrenabaque. Alan Perry, an American guide and environmentalist, invited us. This was a great opportunity to meet people and see the wonderful landscapes of the National Park National Madidi and the Biosphere Pilon Lajas.Alan recently formed a team with the Bolivians Franz and William. They run an agency for eco-expeditions and install waterfilters in communities. For ten American dollars, a family can own a filter that will supply clean drinking water to improve the local health situation. proyecto.agua.indigena.googlepages.com

Results Rurrenabaque
Leoncio Janco is indigenous Tacana and operates the small tour Agency Enin Tours. He offered Amazon Fund the use his large family land for the rehab and field-study center. It is located 45 minutes upstream from Rurrenabaque, inside the national park Madidi. It's attractive, a good place for the animals, and suits our needs since two level areas at the riverside could be used at the start. The river provides a cool breeze, and the area has fruit trees to feed the animals. Nearby Madidi National Park is a good location for the field study center.

The site has the additional advantage of being suitable for volunteers and will be perfect for promotional purposes. There is additional acreage where future expansion could take place. We are negotiating with Leo's Tacana family for a project of minimal 10 years duration also involving the park administration.

We also learned about the German refuge (www.refugio-jaguarete-rurre.com) for wildlife is being build in Rurrenabaque, and they have offered to cooperate with Amazon Fund.


View Rio Beni from Leoncio's land. Its located 45 minutes upsteam from Rurrenabaque.


Leoncio Janco on his property.


Level area riverside with shade and fruit trees.


Santa Cruz
is the economic Capital and most developed department of Bolivia. The city has 1,5M citizens. The aim was to develop an awareness centre in cooperation with a local non-profit foundation. The idea is to invite schools, children, students, volunteers and experts from Bolivia and other countries with the objective to improve attitude towards nature and create awareness. We also laid the groundwork for a four-week eco-trip of October 2009.

Results Santa Cruz
FCBC and Amazon Fund have become partners FCBC, (Fundación para la Conservación del Bosque Chiquitano or Chiquitano Forest Conservation Foundation) is an established Bolivian NGO with expertise in conservation and environmental issues. A staff of 30 people runs their office. The first agreement between Amazon Fund and FCBC was signed on 04-08-08. A short background, details, and our joint objectives are defined in the agreement which can be viewed at amazonfund.eu/agreementFCBC. We thank FCBC for their confidence in Amazon Fund.
Please read the introduction about FCBC.

Our first objective is to discover a suitable location, land, and infrastructure for a field study center. Accessibility is one of the most important criteria since we want convenient access to school and university students to whom we wish to provide quality environmental education under the guidance of qualified staff. The Amazon Fund Board of Directors will designate a team to implement this process.


Javier Coimbra showing us his family property. 450 ha where dry and humid forest meet, one hour by car from Santa Cruz. A possible location for the field study center.


Visit to property Javier Coimbra.


Meeting at FCBC. Fred Opdam, Erik Jongejan, Tjerk van Rooij and Dr. Roberto Vides-Almanocid.


Piso Firme
Simbioses-Mensch und Natur e.V. In the remote community of Piso Firme this German/Bolivian foundation created cabanas and houses 15 years ago to become a study centre and tourist attraction. The area is rich in avifauna. This project is located at the riverside of Rio Paragua and serves as a buffer zone for P.N. Noel Kempff Mercado. However, tt is very remote. In the dry season it requires a 20 hours drive by car or a three hour expensive flight from Santa Cruz. After the rains come, it is accessible only by air or river from Brazil. We thank Klaus Braunert and associates who run the foundation for their hospitality.

Park National Noel Kempff Mercado, Flor d'Oro
This is now the only accommodation and entrance to the Park. The cabanas and interpretation centre need to be renovated. Access is problematical and expensive. Our intention to visit here next year has been put aside.


Sunset at Rio Paragua.


"ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
We thank Hermes Justiniano, his wife Gina Foianini and other FCBC staff for spending a pleasant time with us. Stan Rosholt helped arranging the meetings. We also thank Javier Coimbra for inviting us on his family property. It is a protected area of 450 ha, where dry and humid forest meet. There are infrastructure and other needs to be fulfilled. Amazon Fund would like to start a field study center there. It is located one hour by car from Santa Cruz, (1.500.000 citizens). We are grateful to Dr. Roberto Vides-Almanocid for informing us about FCBC's activities and interests. We would also like to thank IBIF (Instituto Boliviano de investigacion forestall). Because of lack of time our meeting with Director Mostacedo of IBIF was short. He informed us how IBIF studies and implements forest management.