1. TIPNIS and Climate Change Teresa Flores, December 1, 2011 The importance of the Indigenous March for TIPNIS

2. The Indigenous Territory and Isiboro 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

3. TIPNIS (Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure National Park) TIPNIS is located in the center of Bolivia and covers an area of 12.000 km 2

4. TIPNIS is one of Bolivia's best preserved areas with extensive forests and swamps TIPNIS has abundant hydrological resources. Its rivers are important tributaries for the Amazonian Basin.

5. Ecological Value TIPNIS is a very high precipitation zone where the rains can reach altitudes up to 5000m. TIPNIS is a very high precipitation zone where the rains can reach altitudes up to 5000m. It covers a very wide range of altitudes from 3000m to 180m over sea level, which have a large dividersity of ecosystems such as: It covers a very wide range of altitudes from 3000m to 180m over sea level, which have a large dividersity of ecosystems such as: Cliff cloud forests, the medium to high humidity forests of the Yungas and the Chaparé, the low Andean floodplain forests, the base station humid forest, river valley forests, world record swamps, flood-prone savannas, cypress swamps, and various lakes. Cliff cloud forests, the medium to high humidity forests of the Yungas and the Chaparé, the low Andean floodplain forests, the base station humid forest, river valley forests, world record swamps, flood-prone savannas, cypress swamps, and various lakes. It is estimated that TIPNIS is home to 3000 large plant species and various fine wood trees such as the mara, which is commercially extinct. It is estimated that TIPNIS is home to 3000 large plant species and various fine wood trees such as the mara, which is commercially extinct.

6. Fauna The fauna is very diverse. 73 species of mammals have been found among its identified species, such as the Andean bear, 6 feline species including the jaguar, the pejichi (giant armadillo), the londra (a type of otter), the swamp deer, and 10 monkey species. It is estimated that the park contains more than 600 bird species. It is estimated that the park contains more than 600 bird species. Among its endangered reptiles is found the peta de río, the black cayman and the yacaré cayman. Among its endangered reptiles is found the peta de río, the black cayman and the yacaré cayman. The park protects an estimated total of 46 endangered vertebrate species. The park protects an estimated total of 46 endangered vertebrate species.

7. TIPNIS is the “big house” of 3 indigenous groups The Trinity Moxeños consist of various ethnic groups which were grouped together in the Most Holy Trinity Jesuit Mission during the 17 th Century. Various comunities were displaced toward TIPNIS in search of the Holy Hill (Loma Santa). The Trinity Moxeños consist of various ethnic groups which were grouped together in the Most Holy Trinity Jesuit Mission during the 17 th Century. Various comunities were displaced toward TIPNIS in search of the Holy Hill (Loma Santa). The Tsimane have always lived in this region and have had little contact with Bolivian society. They are nomads who move constantly in canoes. The Tsimane have always lived in this region and have had little contact with Bolivian society. They are nomads who move constantly in canoes. The Yuracaré were expelled from their lands in the Chaparé during the 1980s. They use the bow and arrow to hunt and fish. The Yuracaré were expelled from their lands in the Chaparé during the 1980s. They use the bow and arrow to hunt and fish.

8. Mitigation The forests absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. The forests absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. TIPNIS is an important reserve (carbon sink), whose destruction would cause a massive release of carbon dioxide. TIPNIS is an important reserve (carbon sink), whose destruction would cause a massive release of carbon dioxide. The largest source of Bolivian emisions comes from deforestation and the burning of forests and pasture land. The largest source of Bolivian emisions comes from deforestation and the burning of forests and pasture land. TIPNIS is important for mitigation and adaption to climate change

9. Carbon and biodiversity map The region contains very rich biodiversity and high carbon content.

10. Adaptation to climate change Its forests are the source of the basic resources for the people who inhabit the park because they provide: hunting, fishing, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, construction materials, among other things. Its forests are the source of the basic resources for the people who inhabit the park because they provide: hunting, fishing, fruits, nuts, medicinal plants, construction materials, among other things. When deforested, the capacity for resilence to or recovery from the impacts of climate change is lost, which means that the indigenous people will loose their way of life. When deforested, the capacity for resilence to or recovery from the impacts of climate change is lost, which means that the indigenous people will loose their way of life. Deforestation will produce more floods due to greater water run-off. Deforestation will produce more floods due to greater water run-off. More diseases, plagues and greater food shortages will be produced. More diseases, plagues and greater food shortages will be produced. The greater intensity and frequency of flooding in Beni and Northern Santa Cruz is due to the deforestation in Santa Cruz and the Chaparé. The greater intensity and frequency of flooding in Beni and Northern Santa Cruz is due to the deforestation in Santa Cruz and the Chaparé.

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

12. The impact of building the highway: ▶ Deforestation ▶ Burning of forests ▶ CO 2 Emisiones ▶ E xpansion of coca plantations ▶ Loss of water sources ▶ Flooding during the rainy season ▶ Loss of flora and fauna The impact of building the highway: ▶ Deforestation ▶ Burning of forests ▶ CO 2 Emisiones ▶ E xpansion of coca plantations ▶ Loss of water sources ▶ Flooding during the rainy season ▶ Loss of flora and fauna

13. What's the highway for? This highway would cross through a National Park with very little population density. In Bolivia, many high priority highways are not paved. The existing highways should be upgraded and paved and new highways should be built in zones with greater commerce and population density. For these reasons, $414 million dollars should not be wasted building a highway that would cross swamps and would only serve coca growsers who want to expand their planting in TIPNIS, as they have been doing for decades. The greater production of illegal coca will only increase drug trafficing and violence.

14. Conclusions The fight for TIPNIS will help: Save cultural diversity (3 ethnic groups) Save cultural diversity (3 ethnic groups) Save biological diversity Save biological diversity Preserve water sources and water quality Preserve water sources and water quality Mitigate the greenhouse gasses produced by climate change. Mitigate the greenhouse gasses produced by climate change. Maintain the resilience and the capicity for recovery to climate change among the people who inhabit the forest.

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

16. Continue the fight for TIPNIS! Thanks for your support! Teresa Flores, December 1, 2011 Translated by Amos Batto

17. References The Isiboro Securé National Park (PNIS) was founded by the Legal Decree (DL) Nº 07401 (12/22/1965) In 1990, DS Nº 22610 recognized PNIS as the indigenous territory of the Mojeño, Yuracaré and Chiman peoples, naming it the Indigenous Territory and Isiboro Sécure National Park (TIPNIS). This DS enlarged the area, incorporating the external zones of the Isiboro and Sécure Rivers. They establiced a cushion zone and a red line to check the expansion of colonization.