Developing an Interconnected Conservation Landscape Between Bolivia’s Amazon and Chiquitania

Bolivia has the third-highest deforestation rate globally. The Amazon and Chiquitania regions of the country are facing increasing pressure from forest fires and agricultural expansion, worsening deforestation and threatening vital ecosystems and the connections between them. These landscapes include key protected areas and Indigenous territories that are essential for biodiversity, climate resilience, and cultural heritage.

With the support of JFF, WWF-UK, WWF-Bolivia, and Sociedad Boliviana de Derecho Ambiental (SBDA) are focusing on improving forest management and governance to strengthen ecological connectivity, particularly across high-risk areas such as Iténez, Río Blanco y Negro, and Bajo Paraguá. These connected forest corridors are critical for species like the jaguar, which rely on expansive, uninterrupted habitats to survive — making them powerful indicators of forest and biodiversity health.

A central component is the expansion of Forest Foresight, an AI-powered system that predicts illegal deforestation by analysing historical environmental and social data. This technology is being integrated into existing deforestation monitoring technology to enable faster, more effective responses to forest threats.

The programme also supports sustainable livelihoods in Indigenous territories like Itonama, Guarayos, and Monte Verde. Through the responsible use and commercialisation of products such as cusi, cacao, and certified wood, it helps increase household income while reinforcing Indigenous leadership in sustainable forest stewardship.