From January 28 to February 1, 2013, BIC and DAR, a Peruvian nonprofit, co-organized a Training Seminar on the Implementation of Social and Environmental Safeguards held in Washington, DC. Fourteen colleagues from eight countries in Central and South America (Bolivia, Colombia, Peru, Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Panama) participated in the seminar. The seminar was designed as a three-day …
The World Bank and the Government of Bolivia recognize the observations of the TCO Takana I on deficiencies in the Indigenous Peoples Plan of the Ixiamas – San Buenaventura Highway project and accept to start a process to improve the Indigenous Plan even after the project was approved.
BIC Executive Director Chad Dobson signed the letter to IDB president Luis Alberto Moreno after the approval of the San Francisco-Mocoa Alternate Road Construction Project. The letter notes how constructive dialogue with civil society led to many improvements in the project and encourages some of these commitments to be formalized during the general capital increase.
Saturday the 22 of August in Villa Tunari, Cochabamba, an agreement between Bolivia and Brasil was finalized to build a highway between Cochabamba (Villa Tunari) and Beni (San Ignacio de Moxos). Highway to Beni: Villa Tunari – San Ignacio de Moxos
The environmental license of the project was granted by MAVDT in December of 2008 and includes strict environmental standards that guarantee the protection of ecosystems affected by the highway.
Lula and Evo coordinate the return of 1,000 Brazilians located in Pando. Some call for the defense of their lands.
Bolivian government announced the creation of a 100 million dollars fund for four state businesses in the Amazon. for a lumber company, tropical frutes, and rubber. The government’s hope is that, with these new businesses the people in the north of Bolivia will have more opportunities to work and earn higher wages.
Groups in Bolivia’s Pando department, whose land rights have been historically compromised, look to the resettlement plan as a way to firmly establish their rights under the new constitution.
Indigenous peoples organizations emphasize that the government did not consult with them on various oil explorations. Because they were not consulted, there is no established forum for their complaints.