The Loma Santa Indigenous Conservation Area, officially registered on June 26 of this year as the fifth Protected Area of an Indigenous Autonomy in the Amazon region of Bolivia, is located in the Amazonian region of Beni, Bolivia. Loma Santa protects an area of 198,778 hectares and an exceptional level of biodiversity, with records of 252 bird species, both endemic and migratory, that seek refuge in this site.
Loma Santa: A new protected Indigenous territory in Bolivia
Loma Santa is a leading example of Indigenous territorial management and participatory conservation, driven by the Conserva Aves Bolivia initiative and the leadership of the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (TIM), together with ORE, a legal and social support organization. This protected area reflects the harmonious integration of nature and culture, with the active participation of the Mojeño-Trinitario, Mojeño-Ignaciano, T’simane, Yuracaré, and Movima Indigenous communities, adapting to regional particularities to preserve the natural and cultural wealth of the Bolivian Amazon.
The official launch of this new protected area took place on August 19 during a ceremony held in Monte Grande, a TIM community and the main access point to Loma Santa. The event was attended by management and technical teams from the Foundation for the Development of the National System of Protected Areas (FUNDESNAP), Asociación Armonía, and the Legal and Social Support Organization (ORE), representing the Conserva Aves Initiative in Bolivia. Local authorities from the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (TIM) also participated, including the Subcentral of Indigenous Councils, the Subcentral of Indigenous Women, the Autonomous Indigenous Government of the TIM, and the Director General of Biodiversity from the Ministry of Environment and Water (MMAyA). They highlighted the importance of this joint effort for biodiversity conservation and for strengthening the territorial rights of Indigenous peoples.
Photo: Nelson Fernández, FUNDESNAP.
Ornithological richness in Loma Santa
The Loma Santa Conservation Area, located in the heart of the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (TIM), hosts extraordinary ornithological richness. During the dry season, fieldwork identified 252 species, grouped into 21 orders and 53 families, with a notable predominance of Passeriformes.
Map of the Loma Santa Indigenous Conservation Area located in the department of Beni and the Indigenous Autonomous Government (GIA) of the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (green area) in Bolivia. Credit: ORE.
Among the most representative bird families in the area are the flycatchers (Tyrannidae) with 39 species, followed by tanagers (Thraupidae) and antbirds (Thamnophilidae). In addition, species of high conservation value were recorded, such as the emblematic Harpy Eagle (Harpia harpyja) and the Great Tinamou (Tinamus tao), both classified as Vulnerable, as well as other species listed in the CITES appendices. This underscores the ecological and strategic importance of this new protected area.
This area not only safeguards resident species, but also boreal and austral migratory birds, reaffirming its key role in regional ecological connectivity.
Map of the Loma Santa Indigenous Conservation Area located in the department of Beni and the Indigenous Autonomous Government (GIA) of the Multiethnic Indigenous Territory (green area) in Bolivia. Credit: ORE.
Actions by the Legal and Social Support Organization (ORE), a key partner of the Conserva Aves initiative
One year after initiating the process to recognize Loma Santa, and with the support of the Conserva Aves Initiative and technical assistance from the Legal and Social Support Organization (ORE), a series of conservation activities have been carried out. These actions take an integrated approach that includes participatory management and the implementation of protection measures for the bird species inhabiting this region. Likewise, proper management of these protected areas integrates scientific research, ecosystem conservation, environmental services, and cultural values, fostering awareness, environmental education, and sustainable tourism.
A promising future
The Loma Santa Indigenous Conservation Area represents the possibility of consolidating a “territory of life” for thousands of birds and for ancestral cultures in the heart of the Bolivian Amazon. It is an example of collaboration among communities, non-governmental organizations, and international conservation initiatives, showing that by working together it is possible to create new and inspiring models of sustainable management for these living territories and a future for biodiversity and the people who depend on it.
Conserva Aves in Bolivia offers opportunities for reconnection, empowerment, training, and long-term support so that communities can protect their natural territories in a sustained and effective way. Its participatory approach actively involves civil, community, public, and private stakeholders in the sustainable management of these areas, thereby strengthening millions of hectares of already protected territories.
Conserva Aves
Conserva Aves means protecting territories of life! This new refuge was created under the framework of the Conserva Aves Initiative, led by American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, BirdLife International, Birds Canada, and the Network of Environmental Funds of Latin America and the Caribbean (RedLAC). In Bolivia, the initiative is led by the Foundation for the Development of the National System of Protected Areas (FUNDESNAP) and Asociación Armonía, with implementation by the Legal and Social Support Organization (ORE). It also benefits from the valuable support of the Bezos Earth Fund.
Conserva Aves is an initiative that supports Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant communities, NGOs, and community-based organizations in the creation or expansion, management, and sustainability of subnational protected areas at key sites for birds (e.g., Key Biodiversity Areas – KBAs) throughout Latin America.
Cover photo: Drone – ORE